The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) announced that it will be using drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to monitor the public’s compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO). As previously reported, the government had mobilised the MAF yesterday on 22 March 2020 in order to assist police and local authorities.
“By using this drone and UAV technology, it will improve monitoring and surveillance activities. Maybe in another day or two, we can start using them,” stated Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang in an interview with RTM1. He added that the MAF had also been in discussion with the local industry to increase the number of drones and UAVs to increase effectiveness for this purpose.
Furthermore, Affendi stated that the military are prepared to mobilise more personnel to assist police in manning roadblocks and monitor smaller locations, if required. He added that the Malaysian Armed Forces is willing to share its medical facilities to help conduct COVID-19 screening of civilians as well.
The chief general urges all Malaysians to fully cooperate with authorities during MCO in order to help curb the COVID-19 outbreak from spreading further.
