Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) views the death of A. Kugan under police custody as a serious crime and a violation to human rights, particularly the right to life under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution.
The death of A. Kugan is not an isolated case and it is the total failure of the Government to give protection to those kept under its custody. We are further angered by the fact that the Police are now trying to divert the issue from death in custody to tampering with evidence of the body of the victim. The CPO of Selangor Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar has also sort of concluded that the bruises in the body of the victim did not cause his death. With such kind of attitude, it would be useless and a waste of public funds to get the police to investigate this death. The CPO should be immediately disciplined for his action and removed completely from this case for interfering in the investigation.
We have heard too much and seen too little done. The Government must take total responsibility. To date the Government has failed to implement a Coroner Court system and this has resulted in many cases on inquest on death in custody being delayed and justice denied.
There is no more excuse and no more reasons. The Prime Minister should immediately form the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) recommended by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police in 2004 and supported by the Majority of Malaysian public and Human rights Groups.
We have lost all faith and confidence that the police can conduct a fair investigation. The failure of the Government to immediately redress this issue would be seen as a blatant act of negligent of the part of the Government to protect its citizen.
S.Arutchelvan
Secretary General
