Electronic surveillance in the country is legal, but subject to adequate protection to prevent abuse, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said.

Liew (above) said Malaysian laws on electronic surveillance are in line with international standards and law enforcement agencies do not embark on electronic surveillance at will.

“We have codified parameters for electronic surveillance in law and incorporated sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse.

“Agencies must first approach the public prosecutor and present their case.

“Should the public prosecutor be convinced that the surveillance is absolutely necessary to obtain information of a criminal offence, only he can require the surveillance be carried out,” Liew, the de facto law minister, said in a statement released in Batu Sapi, Sabah, last night.

On human rights concerns involving the right to privacy, Liew said: “An absolutely important right, without doubt. But no human right is absolute. Exceptions exist to strike a difficult but important balance between conflicting interests of the individual and the state at times.

“One such exception is that electronic surveillance is necessary to safeguard national security and combat the increasingly complex nature of crimes today.”

- Bernama