THE Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is drafting new laws that will cover all users of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including recreational drone enthusiasts. As the draft is yet to be finalised, details of the new rules are unclear. Hopefully, they will address ways to protect privacy and safety, while still taking advantage of the promise of drone technology. Current laws under the Aeronautical Information Circular 4\/2008 are not specifically for those who use UAS for recreational purposes. Apparently, many private drone users in Malaysia do not understand the regulations, implications of flying their UAS and penalties for breaking the law. The lack of comprehensive drone legislation here is cause for concern. Drone Malaysia co-founder Hamdi Hamdan finds that \u0153Malaysia is still immature in matters concerning drones\u009d. \u0153The drone industry in Malaysia is growing fast. We cant afford to be lax about safety matters.\u009d He finds it shocking that guidelines for flying drones are vague. The current legislation covers only big drones, and hobbyists fear that a mishap may prompt the government to ban the private use of remote-controlled flying devices, which are increasingly dotting the skies.<\/p>\n