KUALA LUMPUR: The move to assign police officers to monitor closed-circuit television recordings in lock-ups 24 hours a day will prevent custodial deaths, according to the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
While lauding the move outlined by deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin, Lee said it was also a smart move to ensure the cases of custodial death which occurred at several police lock-ups before this would not recur.
“This is a good instruction, but we have to ensure that the instruction will be carried out effectively … because I think this is a very serious issue and will affect the people’s confidence in the police force,” he told Bernama yesterday.
He said the move was the only way for the police to restore the people’s confidence on the police’s way of handling those under their custody.
“Since the image of the police force has been tarnished by the incidents, they have to do their level best to rectify the negative perception,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Peacemaker Foundation president, Tan Sri Samshuri Arshad, who is also former
deputy Inspector-General of Police, said whatever move and regulation that could improve supervision of police officers on duties in the investigation of misconduct, should be welcomed.
This is part of the initiatives to improve the people’s confidence as well as the police’s professionalism in the eyes of the public. — Bernama