Edict pans minister for 'No Further Action' on custodial deaths
Eliminating Deaths & Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) has panned Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin over the significant number of custodial death cases that have been marked as “No Further Action” (NFA).
Edict said despite the high number of custodial deaths marked as NFA, Hamzah had yet to respond to the issue.
It said this in reference to...
Eliminating Deaths & Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) has panned Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin over the significant number of custodial death cases that have been marked as “No Further Action” (NFA).
Edict said despite the high number of custodial deaths marked as NFA, Hamzah had yet to respond to the issue.
It said this in reference to a parliamentary written reply to Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa, who had asked the Home Ministry to furnish statistics on custodial death cases between 2015 until September this year.
The Home Ministry, in its reply, revealed that from the 606,664 people it had detained in lockups during the period, a total of 79 people had died.
Of the 79 custodial deaths, it said 30 cases were categorised as NFA.
Another 20 underwent an inquest proceeding, 17 are being looked at by the prosecution while 12 are under investigation.
“It is unfortunate that the minister has not taken an interest to understand and learn about the issue…,” said Edict.
Edict said failure to address the custodial death was a failure in duty.
“Therefore, Edict urges Hamzah to resign as the home minister,” it added.
In the parliamentary written reply, the Home Ministry said police have sought to minimise the cases of custodial deaths by ensuring a strict standard operating procedure (SOP).
This includes properly managing ill detainees, ensuring regular checks on the cells at night, preparing a treatment room and medical assistant and also additional personnel to manage detainees.
It added that the police are also seeking to form a Custodial Medical Unit at five central lockups, and a pilot project is being conducted at the Bayan Baru central lockup in Penang.
Furthermore, it said the ministry is also mulling to appoint private clinics as panel members for medical treatment.
“This will ensure that the health of detainees can be immediately evaluated before they are placed in a lockup,” it said.
It added that CCTVs are also being installed at lockups, and they should be ready by the end of the year.
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