Monitoring humans via digital mapping

Sunday Times
Oct. 09, 2005

The prospects of Big Brother watching you are very real in Malaysia. Malaysian Remote Sensing Centre (Macres) director Datuk Nik Nasruddin Mahmood said humans could be monitored in Malaysia.

"However, we are still at the elementary level. Give us 10 years and we will be able to track a criminal effectively," he said.

At present, the centre gets satellite images from Japan, United States, France and India and then finetunes them to provide information required by government agencies.

The request can come from the Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Defence, Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Public Works Department, Tenaga National, Meteorological Services and others.

The satellite images are used for digital mapping for disaster management, forecasting fish movements, monitoring illegal logging and for the digital mapping of every State.

Nik Nasruddin said Macres had not been asked to track anybody yet though "if there is request from the police, we will provide assistance".

He said the police could plant a chip in the person’s belongings, like a shoe, handphone, bag or car, and the person’s movements could be traced via digital mapping at the centre.

"Developed countries like Japan have completed their digital mapping years ago. They are far ahead of us in terms of technology.

"At the moment, we have completed digital mapping for Klang Valley and are moving on to other States, especially to areas used by illegal immigrants."

The centre has also introduced a Global Positioning System (GPS) wristwatch for jungle trekkers. It will be introducing the gadget to holiday resorts in Malaysia which can rent it to trekkers.

The rental will cost up to RM1,000 for two nights.

The centre can also keep watch for illegal logging. "We have completed the digital mapping for forest reserve areas. It is really effective as all the information is in the map.

"We zoom in for a bird’s eye view and if the place is damaged, we inform the Forestry Department of the particular State."