We’ve got to observe the situation now very carefully.
Mr Huicheh’s got 2 articles from the BBC and China Daily over at his website, link over here. The two articles mentioned are as follows:-
I think we’ve got to keep the pressure on, and LKS and Ms Teresa Kok are maintaining it; let’s hope they don’t stop halfway. What I’m more concerned about is how all of this can be swept up in a storm of protests that focus on racial divides; God knows how easy it is for such an incident to fall into petty bickering about race and ethicity. It’s about fighting for justice and maintaining a position based solely on that criterion: justice.
Already, there are murmurs about ethnic dominance in the police force. Just today, I had a discussion with an Indian colleague, and he was incensed by the whole event. Not because the policewoman was Malay, but because police abuse is rampant in Malaysia today. He related an incident where one of his friends was an Indian policeman who would stop by Chinese restaurants and demand free beer/stout. This is just another case of abuse, and should clue us in to the obvious defects of the police force in general.
Head over to carboncopy’s post for some analysis. I’ve tried looking for the Criminal Procedures Act in my office and can’t find it (I’m bloody shocked). Will have to get my hands on it, though. Of course, powers are confered on the Police via Act 593 by the Executive Branch, but I’d like to examine the actual relationship between the Executive and the Police Force, if such a relationship is defined in the Act.
I believe that Executive should keep their (dirty) hands away from Police Force.
I didn’t have full access to CPC as well. It’s conspicuously missing from www.parlimen.gov.my.
Comment by carboncopy — Saturday, 26 November 2005 @ 6:18 pm
I found a copy and wanted to blog about it later. Anyway, it’s CPC (1984), so I don’t know how relevant it is (has there been any revisions to date? I think sure got one).
Section 19: No unnecessary restraint and mode of searching women.
(1) The person arrested shall not be subjected to more restraint than is necessary to prevent his escape.
(2) Whenever it is necessary to cause a woman to be searched the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency.
I suppose the policewoman has contravened sub-section (2), but I don’t know if there are other more recent consolidated Acts, so…
Comment by xpyre — Saturday, 26 November 2005 @ 6:25 pm
Urr. If you kind enough, and if it is in soft copy. May you email me the copy?
The latest revision to CPC is this year I believe.
Last year, the govt add in a huge chunk of power to deal with terrorist. Very scarry stuff. That is available on parlimen.gov.my
DR16-2004
Comment by carboncopy — Sunday, 27 November 2005 @ 12:08 am
That section deals with Power of Arrest,
But when the detainee has been detainee, does he or she comes under Lockup procedures?
Comment by carboncopy — Sunday, 27 November 2005 @ 12:11 am
Unfortunately, it’s in hard copy. I think I better get the latest one for my office :p
Thanks for the heads up
As far as lock-up procedures, I don’t remember much and the copy’s not with me at the moment. If I remember correctly, the lock-up procedures, as far as detention of the suspect is concerned, deals with duration and proportionality with respect to treatment (I think; I glanced through briefly only) I can’t remember much else, but will have to look into getting the latest copy.
I suspect there are many changes! :p
Comment by xpyre — Sunday, 27 November 2005 @ 12:19 am