Using robots as police is a concept that we often see in science fiction movies and books. But what was once science fiction could become a reality soon in Malaysia.
The Star reports that the police chief of the city, Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, has expressed the potential use of robots to augment police presence in the urban area and a study is already underway to assess feasibility of using robots in crime-fighting initiatives.
Shuhaily mentioned the incorporation of community aspects into the robots, emphasising that their functionality does not require excessive sophistication, as robots are already being employed in nasi kandar restaurants.
Although still in the conceptual stage, the Head of the Kuala Lumpur Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, Senior Asst Comm Beh Eng Lai, recently visited a robotic factory to explore this possibility.
Shuhaily highlighted the importance of the police embracing technology, even basic forms, to facilitate law enforcement and community engagement. Furthermore, he stated that the robots’ operations must be context-specific and adaptable to various locations, such as malls, housing estates, and airports.
In line with this initiative, a planned “conditioning session” for a robot is being arranged at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.
