PUTRAJAYA: A draft Cabinet memorandum outlining recommendations from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission’s (EAIC) committee on custodial deaths has been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Department.
The document, which also proposed preventive measures, was sent last month by a special task force set up to implement the committee’s recommendations, following a detailed review of the proposals in the EAIC Study Committee Report.
In a statement yesterday, the EAIC said the report was first presented to the Prime Minister during a meeting of the Cabinet’s Special Committee on National Governance on May 7, 2024, which resolved to set up the task force.
It said 19 members drawn from 13 ministries, departments and agencies, including the EAIC, submitted comprehensive feedback and expressed broad agreement with the report’s recommendations.
“It also seeks Cabinet approval to implement 13 preventive measures designed for all enforcement bodies involved in detainee management, mainly the Immigration Department and the police,” the EAIC said, Bernama reported.
The Commission noted that recommendations will have financial and legal implications, requiring separate evaluation and refinement before practical implementation.
“The Study Committee’s report is also expected to help the government enhance existing policies and develop stronger new ones.
“This will be achieved by identifying systemic shortcomings that lead to custodial deaths and by improving inter-agency cooperation in protecting human rights,” the EAIC said.
The submission of the draft Cabinet Memorandum, it added, proved the sustained commitment of the EAIC and all relevant agencies to improve detention centre governance across the country and to prevent custodial deaths.
