
Statistics between 2000 and February 2010 showed that 64 Malays had died in police custody, with 30 deaths among Chinese detainees, 28 among Indians, eight people of other races and 14 of the dead being foreigners. Raimi said NGOs should actively assist family members of victims of sudden death in the custody of police or other authorities, especially in cases where the families were not aware of what they can do. "
Therefore, it is vital for us to guide them (the families)," he said, adding that everybody deserved to learn the truth behind such deaths. 'Nothing to do with race' Raimi also called for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be formed soon, noting that nothing had been done since it was first proposed in a royal commission report six years ago. "It's high time the IPCMC is implemented.
Important changes for justice must be done now, it must be seen to be done," he said. The police force, he said, should also be more responsible, with all its officers and men becoming familiar with the Criminal Procedure Code so that they do not abuse power. "When a detainee dies in custody, it is not good. It simply means the detainee died without proper judgment. It is the court that finds a person guilty and passes sentence, not the police," he added. Asked to comment on figures showing Malays being the highest number of people dying in police custody, Raimi said all human lives are equally important and racial origin does not have any role in custodial deaths. "A life is a life, simple. Do not make these deaths a racial issue. We should advocate justice for those who died and for their family members," he added. (Sumber: Malaysia Kini)