The Malaysian Bar is dismayed to learn of the death of Sivabalan Subramaniam, a security guard who recently died after being held in police custody.
It was reported that Sivabalan had suffered breathing difficulties after his arrest when he was at the Gombak district police headquarters. He was later taken to the Selayang Hospital, where he passed away.
Hardly a month has passed since the tragic death of A Ganapathy. While the police have stated that Sivabalan’s death was the result of a heart attack, the Malaysian Bar calls for an immediate and independent investigation into this matter to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death and the cause of death. The spate of unabated deaths in custody has caused an erosion of confidence in the enforcement authorities.
Sivabalan’s death reignites our repeated clarion call to establish the independent police complaints and misconduct commission (IPCMC) – an empowered, independent and external oversight body to investigate complaints against the police force.
The Malaysian Bar also reiterates its call for the introduction of an independent Coroners Act pertaining to deaths under suspicious circumstances. The government needs to act without further delay, because one death in police custody is already one too many.
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AG Kalidas is president of the Malaysian Bar
This piece is reproduced from here and has been edited for style only.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
