PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today criticised Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for establishing a separate unit within the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to investigate deaths in custody (DIC).
“Are Hamzah and the police admitting that all the previous investigations done under the criminal investigation department was not up to standard, compromised or weak?
“And why is this idea coming now, when a new bill to have an independent body is to be tabled in Parliament? It’s pathetic idea but coming from Hamzah, I’m not surprised at all,” its deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said in a statement.
Earlier today, Bernama reported Hamzah as saying that the PDRM would set up a special unit to investigate DIC, which will be known as Criminal Investigation Unit on Deaths in Custody.
“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,” the Larut MP was reported saying.
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 added.
However, Arutchelvan was unimpressed with the minister’s idea and called it another attempt to derail attempts to establish an independent body to probe police misconduct.
“For years, people have been calling for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be established, which was mooted by a royal commission of inquiry.
“Despite massive support from the public, there is no political will from the Government to establish the commission as it is unpopular among the police,” he lamented.
The PSM leader then lashed out at the recent Independent Police Complaints Commission Bill (IPCC) proposed by the Government, adding the agency lacks bite even compared to the already lacklustre Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
“Hamzah believes that the setting up of this new unit would improve the image and integrity of the police force.
“In reality, the integrity of the police force can only be redeemed by an external independent oversight mechanism, not by yet another ‘in-house’ setting,” Arutchelvan remarked. – Dec 6, 2021.
Photo credit: Berita Harian
