PRESS STATEMENT
KUALA LUMPUR (31 MAY 2021) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) is mortified to once again, receive news of more deaths in custody (DIC), with the recent cases of A. Ganapathy on 18 April 2021, S. Sivabalan on 20 May 2021 and Surendren Shanker on 27 May 2021. Three deaths within a short span of five weeks of relatively young and healthy men upon arrest, must surely indicate a serious flaw in SoPs or, worse still, of possible torture and beatings of those in detention.
SUHAKAM is also aware of, and finds the statements by NGOs namely, EDICT and CAGE questioning SUHAKAM’s role in conducting investigations into DIC, as an affront to our legal mandate and duty as a National Human Rights Institution as stated in the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597).
SUHAKAM takes a serious view of DIC and reiterates that every individual is entitled to the right to life as the most fundamental human right, of which, no derogation is permissible. As guaranteed in Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to life is a prerequisite to the realisation of all other human rights. DIC remains, as it always has been, a major focus of SUHAKAM’s work and SUHAKAM inquiries provide an alternative means to justice for families of victims, while working with authorities to identify ways and means to reduce the risk of DIC.
SUHAKAM urges the Government of Malaysia and the Royal Malaysia Police to take immediate action on the following recommendations:
i. to ensure that anyone deprived of their liberty is detained lawfully at a gazetted place of
detention in accordance with the law;
ii. to investigate cases of alleged abuse and misconduct by the police, including as described
above, and to prosecute police officers responsible for the illegal detention, ill–treatment and/or torture of the deceased persons which may have caused and/or contributed to their deaths;
iii. to investigate incidents of alleged torture and abuse of the other suspects by the police,
and to prosecute those responsible; and
iv. to ensure internal disciplinary proceedings and criminal action for breaches of
instructions, including any orders of the court relating to the case.
SUHAKAM has also pushed ahead to support the establishment of a custodial medical team in police lockups, as well as reiterating its call for the 1953 Lock–up Rules to be reviewed and a reconsideration of the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill, which ought to incorporate the substantive points of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2019 and the recommendations from the 2005 Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.
SUHAKAM finds this as an appropriate occasion to recommend to the Government to seriously consider acceding to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), as a demonstration of its commitment to address the issue of DIC in the country.
-END-
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
31 May 2021
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KENYATAAN MEDIA
KUALA LUMPUR (31 MEI 2021) – Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) amat kesal apabila mendapat beberapa lagi berita mengenai kematian dalam tahanan dengan kes kematian A. Ganapathy pada 18 April 2021, S. Sivabalan pada 20 Mei 2021 dan Surendran Shanker pada 27 Mei 2021. Tiga kematian lelaki yang agak muda dan sihat semasa ditangkap, dalam tempoh hanya lima minggu menunjukkan kelemahan Prosedur Operasi Standard (SoP) ataupun berkemungkinan berlakunya penyeksaan dan kekerasan terhadap mereka yang ditahan.
SUHAKAM juga mengambil maklum kenyataan oleh NGO iaitu EDICT dan CAGE dan beranggapan bahawa cara mereka mempersoalkan peranan SUHAKAM dalam menjalankan siasatan kematian dalam tahanan sebagai merendahkan mandat undang-undang dan tugas SUHAKAM sebagai Institusi Hak Asasi Manusia Kebangsaan sepertimana yang termaktub dalam Akta Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia 1999 (Akta 597).
SUHAKAM memandang serius isu kematian dalam tahanan dan menekankan bahawa setiap individu mempunyai hak paling asas iaitu hak kepada nyawa dan ia tidak boleh diambil sewenang-wenangnya. Seperti yang dijamin di bawah Perkara 5 (1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, Perkara 3 Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat dan Perkara 6 Kovenan Antarabangsa mengenai Hak Sivil dan Politik (ICCPR), hak kepada nyawa merupakan prasyarat kepada kesedaran keseluruhan hak asasi manusia. Isu kematian dalam tahanan kekal dan akan sentiasa menjadi fokus utama SUHAKAM dan siasatan SUHAKAM menyediakan saluran alternatif kepada keadilan terhadap keluarga mangsa sementara kami bekerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa mencari jalan dan cara untuk mengurangkan risiko kematian dalam tahanan.
SUHAKAM menggesa Kerajaan Malaysia dan Polis Diraja Malaysia untuk segera mengambil tindakan terhadap syor-syor berikut:
i. Memastikan mereka yang dilucutkan kebebasan ditahan di tempat tahanan yang digazetkan
mengikut undang-undang;
ii. Menyiasat kes dakwaan salah guna kuasa dan salah laku polis, termasuk yang dinyatakan di
atas, dan mendakwa pegawai polis yang bertanggung jawab terhadap tahanan salah, layanan buruk dan/atau penyeksaan terhadap si mati yang mungkin menyebabkan dan/atau menyumbang kepada kematian mereka;
iii. Menyiasat insiden dakwaan penyeksaan dan penderaan suspek lain oleh polis, dan
mendakwa mereka yang bertanggungjawab; dan
iv. Memastikan prosiding tatatertib dalaman dan tindakan jenayah kerana melanggar arahan,
termasuk apa-apa arahan mahkamah yang berkait dengan kes berkenaan.
SUHAKAM juga menyokong penubuhan pasukan perubatan di lokap polis dan menggesa agar Peraturan Lokap 1953 dikaji semula. SUHAKAM juga mengesyorkan agar Rang Undang-Undang Suruhanjaya Tatakelakuan Polis dikaji semula bagi memasukkan perkara-perkara yang terkandung dalam Rang Undang-Undang Suruhanjaya Bebas Aduan dan Salah Laku Polis (IPCMC) 2019 serta syor-syor daripada Suruhanjaya Diraja Penambahbaikan Perjalanan dan Pengurusan Polis Diraja Malaysia 2005.
SUHAKAM berpandangan ini adalah masa yang sesuai untuk mengesyorkan agar Kerajaan mempertimbangkan secara serius untuk menyertai Konvensyen Menentang Penyeksaan Dan Layanan Atau Hukuman Lain Yang Zalim, Tidak Berperikemanusiaan Atau Menjatuhkan Maruah (UNCAT) bagi menunjukkan komitmen Kerajaan untuk menangani isu kematian dalam tahanan di negara ini.
-TAMAT-
Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
31 Mei 2021