CCTV alone won't make schools safer, say parents' group and security expert [WATCH]

The installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at 1,000 schools in Malaysia next year is set to enhance student safety, according to the government. However, a parent's advocacy group, PAGE, and a security expert have warned that CCTV alone is not enough to ensure safety. PAGE chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim emphasized that CCTV should complement, not replace, basic safety measures such as supervision, reporting mechanisms, trained wardens, safety audits, and swift intervention.

Munira Mustaffa, founder of Chasseur Group, added that CCTV cameras are not deterrents and their footage can only serve as corroborating evidence of a crime, not a preventive measure. She highlighted the limitations of CCTV in detecting non-physical forms of harm, such as verbal bullying and sexual harassment, which could escalate into physical violence.

The government's allocation of RM15 million for CCTV cameras at schools is expected to cover less than 10 percent of the country's 10,000 schools, raising questions about prioritization and resource allocation.

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