cheahsoonhai

Gerakan agrees with action taken against cops responsible for Dhamendran's death

Cheah Soon Hai opines that the IPCMC is now needed more than ever

 
 

Press statement by

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Security and Quality of Life Chairman

Dr Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

6 June 2013

 
 

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Security and Quality of Life Chairman, Dr Cheah Soon Hai today commended the Attorney General for charging the police officers allegedly involved in the death if Dhamendran, who died in police custody on 21 May 2013.

 
 

"This is a good first step that will restore the people's confidence in our public institutions, especially those involved with law enforcement. However, the next logical step should be the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission and I fully support the call made by my Acting President, Dato' Chang Ko Youn in this respect," added Dr Cheah.

 
 

Dr Cheah also said that the police must streamline its interrogation tactics and ensure that no disproportionate force is used resulting in injury or death. He also called for the lock up and interrogation rules to be completely overhauled taking into account the human rights of detainees.

 
 

Dr Cheah added, "These detainees are merely suspects, they're innocent until proven guilty, so the Police must respect this cardinal principle and not take it upon themselves to decide the guilt of any suspect as that is the duty of the Courts. The tenets of our legal system must be always upheld, especially those who act in its name."

 
 

Dr Cheah also lamented that he failed to comprehend the police force's aversion to extraneous oversight in the form of the IPCMC. He said if the police believe they are doing a good job then oversight will only seek to reconfirm this. He also said that the IPCMC is needed to deal with complaints made by the public against the police. As public confidence in the law enforcers is crucial so that they will not take the law in their own hands.

 
 

"The establishment of the IPCMC will hopefully restore public confidence towards our police force after years of mistrust. Look at countries like Hong Kong where its police force manage to clean up although it's reputation were in the gutters during the 60s and 70s due to severe abuse of power."