Flying Drones Without Permits Ahead of Malaysian Elections, Four People Detained

Malaysian police detained four people who flew drones (unmanned vehicles) without permission in a crowd area, reported Antara. at the state general election. Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia Captain Norazman Mahmud in a press release received in Kuala Lumpur, Monday, said the four people were detained by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). CAAM and PDRM are currently investigating the four people who flew the drone last Saturday (29/7). CAAM said that one of the four reported cases of drone flight had caused an accident, including injuring residents so that the person concerned had to be rushed to the hospital. The case, according to him, is being handled by CAAM under the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016 and PDRM under Article 325 of the Criminal Code for causing injury intentionally. If found guilty, the perpetrators of the drone flight can be punished with up to seven years in prison, fines, or both as stipulated in the article.

CAAM issued a law that prohibits unlicensed citizens from flying drones during elections in six states. This provision also applies to the day of registration of candidates for council members on July 29, on the early voting day on August 8, and on voting day on August 12. CAAM also prohibits those who do not have a license to fly drones during the campaign period after the registration of candidates for council members. Malaysia carried out a series of general elections in six states, namely Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Terengganu. The candidates for parliament members will compete for 245 parliamentary seats.