KUALA LUMPUR – There has been no racial discrimination against individuals who died in lock-ups while under police custody, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
He said the matter is proven with the low percentage of such deaths at 0.015%, or 10 out of 63,773 detainees, registered from January to September.
The percentage for 2020 was also low at 0.014%, or 13 out of 91,246 detainees.
“I wish to clarify the matter so that it is not turned into another racial issue, as has happened in the past.
“Our emotions made us get carried away until it became something big in the country,” he said in his winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said the Home Ministry is in the midst of improving the management of police lock-ups by appointing private clinics so that detainees’ health status is established before they enter the said lock-ups.
Other efforts include the installation of CCTVs at all lock-ups, he said, with this expected to be completed by year-end, and the initiative divided into five zones, namely north, south and east in the peninsula, and Sabah and Sarawak.
Hamzah’s reminder that MPs should refrain from making deaths in custody a racial issue sparked tension in the House, with several opposition lawmakers standing up to intervene and seeking additional time, written replies and a further explanation.
Among those who stood up were Kasthuri Patto (Batu Kawan-PH), M. Karupaiya (Padang Serai-PH), P. Prabakaran (Batu-PH) and Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya-PH).
The situation led to Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun warning all MPs to respect the allocated time.
“The time allocated is over, understand? This is not the time to debate some more... this is the time for the minister to reply, and the minister has replied.
“Honourable MPs, I noticed that almost 90% of you do not abide by the Standing Orders, and yet, I still allow you to intervene... now, the time for the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister is not enough, with 10 minutes left. So, please follow the rules.” – Bernama, October 5, 2021
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