I thought it couldn’t; on the one hand there’s enough trouble if lokapgal was indeed a Chinese national, and possibly less trouble if she was a local Chinese. Now we have news she’s a 22 year old Malay lady who’s 3 months pregnant (via Star/Maxis sms alert).
Bernama’s carrying a story about the findings to date from the commission over here.
What’s the reaction going to be?
As feared, it appears that these ear-squats are part of “standard procedure” but has no official sanction. Of course it wouldn’t, now would it? A Star report mentions this over here.
The OCPD has advised us that:
“Although ear squats were not prescribed in the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders, OCPD Standing Orders nor the Lockup Rules, ACP Mohd Hazam said he understood that it was a nationwide practice that had been effective in uncovering objects hidden in the armpits and private parts.”
And,
” Describing the practice as “a tradition”, he again told the commission that ear squats were performed to “expel any objects suspected to be hidden inside the anus or private parts.”
Asked if all female detainees including those caught for passport offences had to perform ear squats before being put into lockups, C/Insp Abdul Aziz said emphasis was on those caught for drug offences and serious crimes. ”
He doesn’t actually deny that ear-squats are “prescribed” for detainees of passport offenses, now, does he?
