Internal Security Act detainees, who claimed to have been tortured while being interrogated by police, have named a government doctor as a key witness for having treated them for injuries.
According to notes passed on toMalaysiakini, the doctor had treated the detainees for numerous injuries during the weekly medical visits to the remand centre where they were held before being sent to the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak.
The doctor, who is named in the notes but whose identity is withheld by Malaysiakini pending confirmation, was said to have intervened on behalf of at least a detainee who was “severely” assaulted.
“(Name withheld) is an important individual. Rumour has it that the doctor has retired, but used to work for a government hospital...(The doctor) knows more secrets compared to others,” reads a section of the notes, which were allegedly smuggled out of the Kamunting camp by staff.
Checks with the specific unit of the hospital named in the notes revealed that the doctor, who is believed to be above retirement age, does not serve there.
It is not clear if the doctor, who has been linked to the hospital in other official documents, is now attached with another unit or has retired.
Malaysiakini has contacted an individual believed to be the doctor via email and social media, but has yet to get a response.
The notes, which list the names of the alleged victims and their detention numbers, state that another government medical assistant could also testify to the alleged torture.
According to the notes, records of the injuries can be found in several medical facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Perak, as well as in mental health facilities where detainees were assessed for trauma.
‘No direct information’
Gerakan Mansuh ISA (GMI) chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who has sighted the notes, said the movement has heard the doctor's name being mentioned “for some time”.
However, the doctor has never contacted GMI with any information.
According to notes passed on toMalaysiakini, the doctor had treated the detainees for numerous injuries during the weekly medical visits to the remand centre where they were held before being sent to the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak.The doctor, who is named in the notes but whose identity is withheld by Malaysiakini pending confirmation, was said to have intervened on behalf of at least a detainee who was “severely” assaulted.
“(Name withheld) is an important individual. Rumour has it that the doctor has retired, but used to work for a government hospital...(The doctor) knows more secrets compared to others,” reads a section of the notes, which were allegedly smuggled out of the Kamunting camp by staff.
Checks with the specific unit of the hospital named in the notes revealed that the doctor, who is believed to be above retirement age, does not serve there.
It is not clear if the doctor, who has been linked to the hospital in other official documents, is now attached with another unit or has retired.
Malaysiakini has contacted an individual believed to be the doctor via email and social media, but has yet to get a response.
The notes, which list the names of the alleged victims and their detention numbers, state that another government medical assistant could also testify to the alleged torture.
According to the notes, records of the injuries can be found in several medical facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Perak, as well as in mental health facilities where detainees were assessed for trauma.
‘No direct information’
Gerakan Mansuh ISA (GMI) chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who has sighted the notes, said the movement has heard the doctor's name being mentioned “for some time”.
However, the doctor has never contacted GMI with any information.
“No camp or medical officers have come forward to say outright that what is happening is against the law. Most of our information comes from family members and lawyers,” said Syed Ibrahim(right). “(The medical and camp officials) have remained quiet, but we hope they can now reveal information anonymously.”
The Human Rights Commission has confirmed the existence of the notes, but the contents cannot be independently verified.
The names mentioned are confirmed to be ISA detainees who are currently serving out their detention orders.
When contacted, police said the complaint has been noted and that a response will be given soon as the matter “needs to be referred to top officials first”.
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