Prioritise Tackling Abuses By Enforcement Agencies Caged Tells Azalina

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CAGED spokesman Rama Ramanathan said the immigration department has brought great disrepute to the country through well-publicised revelations of abuse of its detention powers. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Azalina Othman Said must focus on abuses by law enforcement agencies now that she is the special adviser to the prime minister on law and human rights, says a rights NGO.
The Citizens against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED) said she must act on such complaints against the police, immigration and detention centres, which have all made the headlines for the wrong reasons.
In a statement today, the rights NGO said there was a “crying need” to restore pride in the police force as there appears to be an overuse of the remand procedure, deaths and abuse in custody, enforced disappearances and a culture of impunity.

CAGED’s spokesman Rama Ramanathan highlighted the criticisms of the police by its own top leaders, such as former inspector-general of police Hamid Bador, current Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, as well those from coroners, judges, the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the Bar Council.
It also highlighted the abuses of migrant workers by the immigration department, which it said Azalina should pay much attention to.
Rama Ramanathan.“The immigration department has brought great disrepute to our nation through the well-publicised revelations of abuse of detention powers, extended detention in ill-suited premises, and disregard for international norms in respect of repatriation.”
It also noted that lock-ups and prisons have become hotspots for disease and distress, both for detainees and their jailers.
CAGED appealed to Azalina, to focus her attention on places of detention which it said are “underfunded, stretched and abused”.
“We encourage Azalina to prioritise institutions which have been much in the news for all the wrong reasons.”
Rama also said the government should consider establishing state police forces, independent of the federal police, as has long been the practice in countries such as Australia and the US. - FMT

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