Persoalan bukti dalam tangkapan besar-besaran/Mass arrests without evidence raise concerns

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) memandang serius operasi serbuan penguatkuasaan baru-baru ini di sebuah pusat kesihatan yang melibatkan beberapa individu, termasuk pegawai awam.

Suhakam mengakui peranan agensi penguatkuasaan dalam menegakkan undang-undang serta tanggungjawab Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam untuk menangani dakwaan salah laku dalam perkhidmatan awam.

Namun demikian, tindakan tersebut mestilah dilaksanakan selaras dengan perlindungan perlembagaan dan undang-undang, proses wajar yang lebih wajar, serta penghormatan terhadap maruah manusia.

Suhakam mengambil maklum laporan bahawa serbuan dan tangkapan telah dibuat secara tergesa-gesa tanpa kehadiran atau pengecaman mangsa. Tindakan penguatkuasaan, terutamanya yang melibatkan soal tingkah laku peribadi dan penahanan seharusnya berdasarkan maklumat yang telah disahkan dan bukti yang boleh dipercayai.

Dalam kes ini, tiada mangsa yang dapat dikenal pasti dan ketiadaan bukti, seperti yang dijelaskan oleh ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, telah menimbulkan persoalan mengenai asas tangkapan besar-besaran tersebut dan sebarang tindakan tatatertib yang mungkin menyusul.

Suhakam turut bimbang bahawa individu yang ditahan tidak dibebaskan dengan segera walaupun permohonan reman pihak polis telah ditolak oleh majistret.

Sebarang kelewatan dalam pembebasan, apatah lagi kelewatan yang berpanjangan seperti dalam kes ini, selepas mahkamah menolak permohonan reman, menimbulkan persoalan serius mengenai kepatuhan kepada arahan kehakiman dan penghormatan terhadap kebebasan diri, di samping boleh menjejaskan proses wajar serta perlindungan perlembagaan.

Penghargaan harus diberikan kepada ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur atas keterbukaan beliau menjelaskan bahawa “Semua yang ditahan disiasat di bawah Seksyen 377/372 Kanun Keseksaan, namun tiada bukti untuk membolehkan polis meneruskan siasatan ke arah itu” (Sunday Mail, 30 November).

Walau bagaimanapun, penjelasan ini menimbulkan persoalan: jika tiada bukti, mengapakah tangkapan besar-besaran tersebut dilakukan pada awalnya? Tidakkah tindakan penahanan secara tergesa-gesa itu sendiri boleh dianggap sebagai pelanggaran Artikel 5 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang memperuntukkan bahawa tiada sesiapa pun boleh dilucutkan nyawa atau kebebasan dirinya kecuali mengikut undang-undang?

Bagi pegawai awam, Suhakam menegaskan keperluan untuk mematuhi sepenuhnya Peraturan-peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993, yang memperincikan prosedur penyiasatan, proses tunjuk sebab dan inkuiri tatatertib yang adil, telus dan tidak berat sebelah.

Pegawai mesti dimaklumkan dengan jelas mengenai dakwaan terhadap mereka dan diberikan peluang yang munasabah untuk menjawab sebelum apa-apa tindakan diambil.

Keperluan ini diperkuatkan oleh Perkara 135(2) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, yang melarang seseorang pegawai daripada dibuang kerja atau diturunkan pangkat tanpa peluang yang munasabah untuk didengar. Perlindungan ini memastikan keputusan tatatertib dibuat secara adil, berdasarkan fakta dan undang- undang, dan bukan atas andaian awal atau prejudis.

Suhakam juga menzahirkan kebimbangan terhadap laporan mengenai pendedahan identiti individu yang terlibat. Hak terhadap privasi dan maruah mesti dilindungi sepanjang proses penyiasatan.

Pendedahan kepada umum sebelum fakta dibuktikan boleh mendatangkan mudarat yang tidak sepatutnya dan tidak selaras dengan penjagaan maruah manusia serta piawaian hak asasi manusia, termasuk prinsip-prinsip yang digariskan dalam Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat.

Sehubungan itu, Suhakam menggesa pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan untuk memastikan bahawa:

• Segala penyiasatan dijalankan secara telus, objektif dan berdasarkan bukti yang disahkan
• Hak individu yang terlibat, termasuk pegawai awam, dipelihara sepenuhnya selaras dengan Peraturan 1993 serta jaminan perlembagaan
• Identiti peribadi dilindungi sehingga proses wajar diselesaikan dan dapatan ditetapkan
• Proses tatatertib tidak dimulakan atau dimuktamadkan secara tergesa-gesa sebelum semua fakta dinilai dengan sewajarnya

Suhakam sekali lagi menegaskan bahawa pematuhan terhadap proses wajar adalah penting bukan sahaja untuk melindungi hak individu, tetapi juga untuk mengekalkan keyakinan awam terhadap institusi penguatkuasaan dan tatatertib.

Penyiasatan yang adil dan telus serta pematuhan terhadap proses wajar mengukuhkan kedaulatan undang-undang dan mempertahankan integriti perkhidmatan awam Malaysia. – Suhakam

English version

Raid at wellness centre: Suhakam calls for legal and fair process

The Malaysian human rights commission, Suhakam, views with grave concern the recent enforcement raid at a wellness centre involving several individuals, including public officers.

Suhakam acknowledges the role of enforcement agencies in upholding the law and the responsibility of the Public Service Department to address allegations of misconduct within the civil service.

However, these actions must be carried out in a manner that is consistent with constitutional and legal safeguards, due process and respect for human dignity.

Suhakam notes reports that the raid was conducted and arrests hastily effected without the presence or identification of victims.

Enforcement actions, especially involving personal conduct and arrest, must be based on verified information and credible evidence.

In this case, the absence of identifiable victims and evidence, as clarified by the chief of Kuala Lumpur Police, raises concerns about the basis of the mass arrests and any ensuing disciplinary measures.

Suhakam is also concerned by the fact that the individuals arrested were not promptly released despite the magistrate’s refusal to grant the police’s remand application.

Any delay in release, let alone a prolonged delay, as is the case here, after the court’s refusal of the remand application raises serious questions about compliance with judicial directions and respect for personal liberty and may undermine due process and constitutional protections.

Credit must be given to the chief of Kuala Lumpur Police for being candid in clarifying that “All those arrested were investigated under Sections 377/372 of the Penal Code, but there was no evidence to help police pursue the case in that direction” (Sunday Mail, 30 November).

However, this clarification begs the question: if there was no evidence, then, why the mass arrests in the first place? Didn’t the hasty mass arrests constitute violations of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution, that no person shall be deprived of his life or liberty save in accordance with the law?

Where public officers are concerned, Suhakam stresses the need to strictly follow the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, which outline fair, transparent and impartial procedures for investigations, show-cause processes and disciplinary inquiries.

Officers must be clearly informed of the allegations and given a meaningful opportunity to respond before any action is taken. These requirements are reinforced by Article 135(2) of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits dismissing or demoting an officer without a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

These safeguards ensure disciplinary decisions are made fairly, based on facts and law, and not on premature assumptions or prejudices.

Suhakam also expresses concern regarding reports of the exposure of personal identities of individuals involved. The right to privacy and dignity must be protected throughout any investigation.

Public disclosure prior to the establishment of facts may cause undue harm and is inconsistent with human dignity and human rights standards, including the principles reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the light of these concerns, SUHAKAM calls on the relevant authorities to ensure that:

• All investigations are conducted transparently, objectively and based on verified evidence
• The rights of individuals involved, including public officers, are fully upheld in accordance with the 1993 regulations and constitutional guarantees
• Personal identities are protected until due process has been completed and findings are established
• Any disciplinary processes are not initiated or concluded prematurely before all facts are properly assessed

Suhakam reiterates that safeguarding due process is essential not only to protect individual rights but also to maintain public confidence in enforcement and disciplinary institutions.

Fair and transparent investigations and adherence to due process strengthen the rule of law and uphold the integrity of Malaysia’s public service. – Suhakam

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