Cabinet memo draft on custodial deaths sent to PM's Dept last Dec: EAIC

 

A draft cabinet memorandum outlining recommendations from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission’s (EAIC) committee on custodial deaths, along with proposed preventive measures, was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Department in December last year.

The document was submitted by a special task force set up to implement the committee’s recommendations, following a detailed review of the proposals in the EAIC Study Committee Report.

That report was first presented to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting of the Cabinet Special Committee on National Governance on May 7, 2024, which then resolved to establish the task force.

In a statement today, the EAIC highlighted key aspects of the memorandum, noting that its 19 members, drawn from 13 ministries, departments and agencies, including the EAIC, submitted comprehensive feedback and expressed broad agreement with the report’s recommendations.

“It also seeks cabinet approval to implement 13 preventive measures designed for all enforcement bodies involved in detainee management, particularly the Immigration Department and the police,” the EAIC said.

The commission noted that recommendations will have financial and legal implications, requiring separate evaluation and refinement before practical implementation.

“The study committee’s report is also expected to assist the government in enhancing existing policies and developing stronger new ones.

“This will be achieved by identifying systemic shortcomings that lead to custodial deaths and by improving inter-agency cooperation in protecting human rights,” the commission clarified.

The submission of the draft cabinet memorandum, it added, demonstrates the sustained commitment of the EAIC and all relevant agencies to improve detention centre governance across Malaysia and to prevent custodial deaths.

- Bernama