Hamzah's 'pathetic' idea on custodial death gets a beating from PSM
PSM launched an acerbic salvo at Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin for stating that a special police unit will investigate cases of custodial death.
“What a pathetic idea,” said PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, he asked if the home minister and police were admitting that all previous investigations into such cases were not up to the mark, compromised, or weak.
Questioning the timing of the statement...
PSM launched an acerbic salvo at Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin for stating that a special police unit will investigate cases of custodial death.
“What a pathetic idea,” said PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, he asked if the home minister and police were admitting that all previous investigations into such cases were not up to the mark, compromised, or weak.
Questioning the timing of the statement, he queried: “Why is this idea coming now when a new bill is to be passed in Parliament?”
“Is this part of the continuous, persistent, and consistent attempt to derail the Independent Police and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be permanently postponed citing various reasons?” he added.
For 17 years, Arutchelvan said, the public has been waiting for the setting up of the IPCMC, which was proposed by a royal commission.
“Yet in spite of the massive support from the public, there was no political will by the government to establish the bill as it was obviously unpopular among the police ranks
“When Hamzah’s party (Bersatu) came to power briefly, they proposed a watered-down IPCMC which is called IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission), whose powers were even less than the currently established EAIC (Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission).
“Now he is making another circus around the issue of deaths in custody with this new unit,” he added.
Disagreeing with Hamzah that the special unit would redeem the police's image, Arutchelvan (above) said this can only be done through an external oversight mechanism.
ALSO READ: Police to set up unit to investigate deaths in custody – Hamzah
Earlier today, the home minister said the special team, which is to be known as the Criminal Investigation Unit on Deaths in Custody, would comprise 12 police personnel and one civilian staff.
"This unit will begin operation on Jan 1 next year, headed by a police superintendent. Beginning this date, all deaths involving detainees will be handled by this unit,” he added.
He said the unit, which will come under PDRM's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department, would focus on the aspect of criminal liability, duty of care, and compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Hamzah also denied that there were racial elements in custodial deaths, saying that from 2015 until now 82 deaths in lock-ups have been reported, with the victims comprising 42 Malays, 13 Chinese, 15 Indians, and 12 foreigners.
The closest the IPCMC came to fruition was when the Pakatan Harapan government tabled the IPCMC Bill in Parliament in 2019 but due to criticism about a lack of consultation, the bill was deferred for review by a parliamentary select committee (PSC).
Last week, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) reiterated its call on the government to scrap its proposal for the IPCC in favour of the IPCMC.
Its president Muhammad Mohan claimed the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who commands the confidence of the opposition bloc, was determined to bulldoze the IPCC bill.
"This is much to the dismay of civil society, families of victims of deaths in custody, parliamentarians, and fellow Malaysians.
"As recently as earlier this month we were yet again served with another report of a death in custody, and the people are still waiting for closure and accountability for the mass graves in Wang Kelian where a royal commission of inquiry was done but until today we have not heard of the findings,” he added.
