KUALA LUMPUR – In an unprecedented move for the nation, the Malaysian police has worked with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to produce a human rights module for its entire force.
Co-developed by both parties in 2018, the module is an initiative to strengthen the training of police officers regarding the domestic and international human rights standards required when they are carrying out their duties.
“This module will act as a guide for instructors delivering human rights courses to PDRM officers, while improving existing curriculums by adapting and integrating relevant topics in the module,” a joint statement released today by police and Suhakam said.
Topics covered by the module include international standards of human rights and policing; prohibition of discrimination; special needs of disabled detainees, children and women; as well as application of human rights principles in detention, arrest and the use of force and firearms.
The prohibition of torture, punishment and other treatments that are cruel, inhumane and degrading to one’s dignity is also part of the module.
It also focuses on the human rights of police officers themselves and the police corp in general.
The module was launched today at an event officiated by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Othman Hashim.
According to Acryl Sani, police personnel are set to be involved in similar programmes in the future, to not only gain knowledge on human rights, but also to give emphasis on the Malaysian police’s support for the cause.
Similarly, Othman expressed his hopes that the module will reinforce the police force’s learning on fundamental rights, while ensuring that human rights is prioritised and observed by police officers when undertaking their tasks.
The police is no stranger to criticisms on human rights with numerous reports on deaths in police custody and complaints about treatment of detainees.
Police reported its 15th custodial death for this year just last week. The Bukit Aman Integrity and Standard Compliance Department said the 45-year-old man who died was suspected to have suffered from a seizure, but the cause of death was not confirmed.
In February, a total of 50 civil rights and political groups had handed over a memorandum to police demanding for transparent investigations into custodial deaths.
In 2021, the nation saw its highest number in recent years of custodial deaths at 19 documented cases, leading human rights outfit Suara Rakyat Malaysia to reiterate its calls for the Home Ministry to produce reports detailing statistics regarding the deaths. – The Vibes, April 18, 2022
