THE police can confiscate mobile phones of suspects and anyone involved in ongoing investigations, not random checks on the public, said Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman.

The minister was responding in a question-and-answer session in Parliament in order to set the record straight on confusing media reports that police had the right to carry out random checks on mobile phones belonging to members of the public.

“Under the law, mobile phone checks can only be carried out on people suspected of committing a criminal offence,” he said in a statement today.

This includes the Penal Code; Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998; the Sedition Act 1948; the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012; the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007; or the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015.

He said the public can contact the Complaints Management Branch of the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department on 1-800-880222, email to [email protected] or fax to 03-2266-7080 for further information. – Bernama, November 19, 2019.