Use of Electronic Monitoring Device to be outsourced

KUALA LUMPUR: The Electronic Monitoring Device (EMD) will be used on suspected militants released from detention beginning July and the monitoring will be done by an outsourced company, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
Ahmad Zahid said outsourcing the handling of EMD is also done in other countries that are using the device.
"The Police and Prison authority have outsourced the handling of EMD and the monitoring will either be done through satellite or through devices installed in specific areas including the houses of the suspects," Ahmad Zahid said.
He also warned that if any of the EMD is tampered or removed, it will immediately alert the police and the suspects will be arrested with immediate effect for three years.
"The 107 arrested (for alleged involvement in militant activities)… we will attach EMDs on them if they want to be released and monitored," he told reporters outside the Dewan Negara today.
Ahmad Zahid said specific training will be conducted for the relevant officers on handling the EMD to ensure that the teething problems faced by other countries are not faced here as well.
"The teething problems commonly faced are the lack of cooperation from the families of the suspects, lack of knowledge in handling the devices by officers in charge and initial monitoring issues," he said.
Earlier Ahmad Zahid told the Dewan Negara that the 12 terror suspects detained on Sunday with links to the Islamic State (IS) planned to blow-up the Parliament building, administrative places in Putrajaya, and prostitution dens.
"These militants do not believe in the democracy system; they believe in the Khulafa government," he told the Dewan Negara when answering questions on the effectiveness of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
On Sunday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the Counter-Terrorism Division crippled a local terrorist cell linked to IS with the arrest of the 12 in raids in Hulu Langat, Cheras and other locations here and in Selangor on Saturday.
It was reported that the suspects, aged between 17 and 47, were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, bringing the number of IS-related arrests to 107 since April 2013.