KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — The Malaysian Bar today urged the government to establish an independent commission to investigate and hold police accountable for their misconducts and negligence following two cases of deaths in police custody.

In a statement, its president George Varughese said there is an urgent need to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry 13-years ago.

"The government should follow the recommendation of the report released in May, 2005. Although 13 years have passed since the report was published, the need to set up the IPCMC remains as relevant, and even more pressing today.

"We need IPCMC to function as an external body to investigate complaints about police personnels and to make the police accountable for their misconduct, including acts of negligence,” he said in a statement.

On March 17, Nizam Idris, 39, was found hanged in the Selama police station lock-up.

District police chief deputy superintendent Loo Lian Lay said that the Royal Malaysia Police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) were investigating Nizam‘s death.

George said the two authorities currently tasked to probe the incidents may not be fit to conduct investigations, especially since they have failed to provide any reports until today to prove otherwise.

"We are concerned that the case of Nizam Idris is being investigated by JIPS, which is a department still within the Royal Malaysia Police.

"We are not aware of any investigation outcome from JIPS or EAIC, which gives the perception that act of misconduct or negligence in these cases may go unaddressed.

On April 17, S. Thanabalan,38, was pronounced dead at Shah Alam Hospital after he was found unconscious at the Shah Alam central lock-up.

The Health Ministry confirmed that Thanabalan had shown symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and lack of appetite for four days before he died. 

It appears that Thanabalan might not have received immediate or adequate medical attention at the onset of his illness.

George said the deaths could have been prevented if the police officers on duty had been more diligent in ensuring the detainees’ safety and well-being.