KOTA KINABALU:Drone owners and enthusiasts in Sabah are required to obtain permit to fly the device, said Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Air Wing Unit (PGU) Commander in Sabah, ACP Ahmad Lokman Abd Hadi.

He said they are required to get approval from the Malaysian Survey and Mapping Department, as well as to obtain the permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) before the device can be flown, but only in the space specified.

“In Sabah, there are drone flying activities, but it is more of a hobby and  PGU is monitoring it for any reports of encroachment into restricted areas,”  he told Bernama.

Flying drones without a permit is an offence under the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations (MCAR) 2016.

Ahmad Lokman said following reports on unauthorised flying of drones, the PGU had been provided with a Jammer device to deactivate those sighted flying in prohibited areas.

The prohibited areas, include  the Sabah PGU area, he said, adding that the unit had been provided with four types of drones, namely Dji Phantom 3 Professional; Dji Inspire 1; Dji Mavic 2 Enterprise Zoom and Dji Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual and a Orion 7 MP Jammer.

-- BERNAMA