DON'T WITHHOLD TRUTH FROM THE PEOPLE: Even Seai Kie disgusted at Dharmendran torture

While I welcome the police’s reclassification of N. Dhamendran’s death whilst under custody at the Kuala Lumpur city police headquarters as a murder investigation in addition to the formation of a special committee to prevent deaths in police lock-ups, I am taken aback that a third police detainee i.e. engineer P. Karuna held at the Tampin police headquarters, has died within a spate of 11 days despite public indignation.

Allow me to emphasise that nothing must be left uncovered as justice and the truth are owed to the victims, their family members and the rakyat and must prevail.

Hospital Kuala Lumpur autopsy report on Dhamendran

As a mother, I am outraged and filled with revulsion at the extent of the injuries inflicted on the body of Dhamendran as detailed in the Hospital Kuala Lumpur forensic pathologist’s report. My heartfelt sympathies are with the family. If Dhamendran was indeed involved with the shooting of police personnel, then he should have been charged and prosecuted accordingly to the law and not allegedly tortured causing death.

As the post-mortem autopsy deduced that Dhamendran had died to severe blunt force trauma while Karuna’s death is still undergoing examination by a hospital pathologist, I thus urge the newly appointed Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to set up an inquest into the mysterious circumstances leading to all the victims’ death soonest possible.

The inquest will surely uncover the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) when interrogating a suspect, if the SOP was followed and the personnel involved during the interrogation.

Sacrifices of police will be forgotten if custodial deaths not taken seriously

Transferring 4 personnel suspected to be involved in Dhamendran’s interrogation is simply insufficient and a slap to the family and justice. It only exacerbates public perception of a police cover up. Immediate and severe action must be taken against the culprits who are proven responsible. We must put an end to all these misconducts allegedly committed by the very authorities whom the public place their trust in upholding the law.

Otherwise, confidence in the Royal Malaysian Police Force as implementers of the law will erode. Even worse, public perception may forget all their contributions and the ultimate sacrifices the police personnel paid towards maintaining security and defending our nation’s sovereignty as evidenced during Ops Daulat at Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Sandakan two months ago when repelling Suluk terrorists.

The Home Minister’s announcement that the four personnel will be suspended is welcome but more importantly, return justice to the victims. Do not withhold the truth from the rakyat.

Datuk Heng Seai Kie

MCA Publicity Bureau chairman

MCA Deputy National Organising Secretary