Home Minister said the PDRM can only check people's phones with evidence, not on "reasonable suspicion"

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Last week, we reported that the Malaysian police force can check your mobile phone if there is enough reasonable suspicion. However, it was further clarified again by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, saying the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) cannot simply check a phone without a good reason.

In response to a recent statement by the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, our local Home Minister said the PDRM must have efficient intelligence information in order to do so, not just done with a "gut feeling". Initially, Inspector-General Razarudin said the PDRM can check a public member's phone if there is any "reasonable suspicion".

On the other hand, he also previously said the police can check a person's phone during a roadblock. This was also criticised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) that it is a violation of human rights, as the police cannot arbitrarily do so without any evidence.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin said he will meet with the PDRM and SUHAKAM in the near future. This is so that the matter of the police checking mobile phones can be further clarified and not cause confusion to the public.