JOHOR BARU: The Peninsular Malaysia Immigration Services Union has called for decisive action against individuals, including foreigners, who take photos or record videos in restricted areas.

Its president, Ajeet Singh Gurbax Singh, said filming in restricted areas was a violation of security laws.

He said the footage, often shared on social media, was used to criticise Immigration officers and undermine the department's reputation.

"These illegal recordings not only breach the law, but also jeopardise national security and incite negative sentiment towards the Immigration Department," Ajeet said in a statement today.

He urged the authorities, including the Immigration Department, to strictly enforce the Prohibited Areas and Prohibited Places Act 1959 (Act 298).

Section 4(2) of the act mandates that individuals within restricted zones abide by all instructions given by authorised officers and conform to regulated movements and behaviour.

Section 7 outlines penalties for those who violate these rules, with offenders facing up to two years in prison, a RM1,000 fine, or both.

The union's deputy president, Mohammed Yuzaiman Ahmad, said its members had reported numerous incidents of foreigners filming them in restricted areas.

These videos, he added, were often circulated online to express dissatisfaction with Immigration services.

He said under the provisions of the law and the Immigration Department Director-General's Standing Orders, any party that is dissatisfied with the service provided by the officers should use the official channel to make a complaint.

This channel would give both parties equal opportunities to explain the matter.

Yuzaiman said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah had, last year, proposed that body-worn cameras (BWCs) that are used by the police be extended to other enforcement agencies, including the Immigration Department.

"Logically, Immigration officers stationed at the world's busiest land entry point should be equipped with BWCs."

He said the BWC would enhance transparency, improve standard procedures and protocols for handling travellers and deter violations by Immigration officers.

"Take for example the case of a Singaporean woman, who claimed that she was detained by an Immigration officer after she recorded him for allegedly shouting at her. If she was filming the alleged incident in a restricted area, then it's clear that she violated the law.

"If the officer on duty had worn a BWC, the case would have been resolved by now."

On Aug 7, a Singaporean woman, identified as Atalia Chua, claimed that she was detained on her way back at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar.

She alleged that an Immigration officer at one of the counters shouted at her.

However, Johor Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communication Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said she was detained after arguing with an Immigration officer, defied instructions and used offensive language.

"Closed-circuit television camera footage from the complex showed that she disregarded instructions to refrain from filming in the restricted area and used offensive language towards the officer."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/1104367/recording-restricted-zones-immigration-union-wants-tougher-action