CCTV CAMERAS FOR ALL LOCKUPS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- The government plans to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all lockups, one of several new measures aimed at improving the detention system.

Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung said the ministry was seeking an
allocation for the purpose. Presently, most of the lockups had been equipped
with CCTV cameras.

He said it was also considering a proposal to record police interrogations
aimed at reducing death or injury cases involving suspects.

"The proposal to record police interrogations is still being studied," he
said in reply to a question by Senator Muhamad Yusof Husin in Dewan Negara
(Senate - upper house of the Malaysian Parliament) Thursday.

Chor also said all district police chiefs and police station chiefs had been
directed to follow the law and lockup procedures strictly.

"The new measures are aimed at tightening the existing directive that an
interrogation must be led by a senior police officer at all times or make a
visit every one hour."

He said a review by the ministry found that the procedures and directives on
the interrogation of suspects were adequate to ensure the safety of suspects.

They include the Lockup Procedures 1953 which stated that their safety was
the responsibility of the police who could not beat them up except in self
defence.

"As such, a review of the interrogation procedures is not necessary. We only
need to overcome the weaknesses via a strict monitoring system at all levels,"
he added.
-- BERNAMA