STRATEGIC' PUBLIC AREAS - CCTVs set up in 149 boarding schools

Aug 13, 2026

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CCTV installations have been completed in 149 of 200 selected boarding schools, following procurement carried out by state education departments, district offices, or individual schools. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh states the cameras are limited to strategic public areas such as hostel corridors and entrances, stairways, dining halls, study rooms, ironing rooms, and certain isolated areas. Recordings must be stored per ministry specifications with a minimum 30-day retention, while cameras are excluded from dormitories, toilets, and changing rooms to protect students’ privacy and dignity. Surveillance will also be reinforced through scheduled patrols.

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CCTVs in boarding schools

Installation progress and procurement

Approved locations and privacy safeguards

Storage retention and access controls

Budget allocations and next steps

TARIKH:13 NOVEMBER 2025(KHAMIS) BERITA HARIAN UTUSAN M'SIA N.STRAITS TIMES THE STAR # STRATEGIC' PUBLIC AREAS # CCTVs set up in 149 boarding schools installations starting on Oct 13."The procurement was carriedout by state education depart-ments,district education officesor individual schools,depend-ing on their respective circum-stances." ATOTAL of149out of 200 selectedboarding schopls have completedthe installation of closed-circuittelevision camera(CCTV)sys-tems,said Deputy EducationMinister Wong Kah Woh. over RM9 mllion was spent ondistributing Jalur Gemilang pins,only about RM3 million was al-located for CCTVinstallations. In response,Wong said CCTVrecordings would be stored ac-cording to the ministry's spec-ifications,with a minimum re-tention period of 30 days. He told the Dewan Rakyat thatthe cameras were installed onlyin strategic public areas,includ-ing main hostel corridors andentrances,stairways,dininghalls,study rooms,ironing roomsand isolated areas around hostelblocks. He was responding to a ques-tion by Datuk Seri Dr ShahidanKassim(PN-Arau)on whether theselection ofcontractors for CCTVinstallations in 200 boardingschools was conducted through aclosed or open tender processand how the ministry deter-mined suitable locations for thecameras. "The specifications for supply,installation,administrative ac-cess and overall operation of theCCTV system are clearly outlinedin the ministry's guidelines. “At the same time,the ministrystresses that CCTV cameras willnot be installed in dormitories,toilets or changing rooms,as do-ing so would violate students'pri-vacy,dignity and fundamentalrights. "The ministry continues to bal-ance the need for safety withthe importance of protecting theprivacy and dignity of students,"he said. On comparisons betweenallocations for CCTVsystems andthe Jalur Gemilang distribution,Wong said government pro-grammes were not a zero-sum ef-fort. "Surveillance in these areas willinstead be strengthened throughscheduled patrols by wardens." Wong said the Education Min-istry began the procurement pro-cess immediately after announc-ing the policy on Sept 4,with "Implementing one initiativedoes not mean neglecting anoth-er.Each programme is carried Shahidan also asked how theministry would ensure access toCCTV recordings and students'privacy rights are protected,in-cluding who is authorised to ac-cess the recordings,how longthey are kept and whether dele-tions or data destruction are doneconsistently. He pointed out the differencein allocations,noting that while out with its respective allocation. “As for CCTV installations,RM3 million has been allocatedfor 200 schools,and the govern-ment has also announced an ad-ditional RM5 million allocationto equip 330 more boardingschools.These efforts will con-tinue for the well-being of ourchildren,"he said. Meanwhile,Khoo Poay Tiong(PH-Kota Melaka)asked aboutthe procedures in place to ensureCCTV cameras remained opera-tional. Wong said it was the respon-sibility of school administratorsto ensure CCTV systems and oth-er school assets were well-main-tained and functioning properly. "Under the guidelines,thereare technical specifications forthe installation of CCTV systems,including requirements for cam-eras,network video recorders,LED monitors,wiring and othercomponents,with a minimumone-year warranty."

FAQs

What protections are required to safeguard students’ privacy and dignity?

The ministry specifies that CCTV cameras will not be installed in dormitories, toilets, or changing rooms, as doing so would violate students’ privacy, dignity, and fundamental rights. Surveillance in approved areas is balanced with scheduled patrols by wardens.

Aug 13, 2026

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