THE colour of lock-up attires donned by Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) accused persons (OKTs) are categorised according to the crime committed.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin told Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng that the orange lock-up attire is for men and women accused of serious criminal offences whereas the purple lock-up attire is for those involved in other types of criminal offences.
“In the context of managing suspects or detainees who have been detained in PDRM lock-ups, OKTs are categorised into adult male, adult female, juvenile male and juvenile female,” he explained in a written parliamentary reply.
“PDRM has coordinated the lock-up attires worn by OKTs specifically for the purpose of preventing any unwanted incidents from occurring, fulfilling the needs of detainees while in lock-up and allowing police officers to better control the movement of OKTs during the investigation process and when they are produced in court or when the OKTs needed to be moved from one location to another.”
The attires are consistent across all PDRM lock-ups and are supplied by the Logistic and Technology Department to all contingents, he added.
Meanwhile, Hamzah also clarified that the guidelines for the use of handcuffs on OKTs are subject to the Inspector-General Standing Orders Part A 120 with handcuffs being used to transport OKTs to court to be remanded or charged, to allow investigation officers to carry out their investigation or to escort OKTs to clinics or hospitals for treatment.
“The types of handcuffs used are single handcuffs, three-man gang handcuffs, five-man gang handcuffs, chained single handcuffs, individual leg cuffs and disposable individual handcuffs,” he explained.
The use of handcuffs takes into consideration several factors including the type of offence, the detainee’s attitude as well as the conditions and duration the detainee has to be restrained.
“Children, pregnant women, juvenile offenders and elderly offenders are exempted from being handcuffed unless they act aggressively and pose a danger to others,” he added.
As for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) guidelines, Hamzah noted that his Ministry was unable to elaborate as the agency was parked under the Prime Minister’s Department. – March 9, 2022
