EDICT notes with horror a Free Malaysia Today report yesterday titled “No masks, so suspect brought to court with garbage bag over head”.

The report is accompanied by a photo captioned: “...taken at one of the courts in Penang.”

The photo shows more than three dozen detainees in lock-up attire, handcuffed to one another, pressing against one another, in a courtroom. Two-thirds of them are not wearing masks.

According to the report, some of the detainees were brought to court to be charged with violating the movement-control order.

It also said one detainee had a rubbish bag over his head (presumably to protect others) because he had been in contact with an attendee of the Sri Petaling Mosque tabligh gathering that has been identified as a Covid-19 cluster. A rubbish bag!

On March 17, Edict urged the home minister to protect cops and detainees from the virus. The next day, Edict called on the public to honour police, who now carry an additional burden and face extra risks.

Edict is glad that cops are enforcing rules – including making arrests – to minimise the spread of infection.

Edict is appalled that the home minister has failed to ensure that police on the ground are protected.

Edict calls on Hamzah Zainudin, as well as Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador, to take immediate action to ensure that arrest and arraignment processes comply with rules to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

It is unacceptable to expose police, detainees, lawyers, members of the judiciary and courtroom staff to avoidable infection risks.

It is unacceptable that those who enforce rules to minimise infection themselves disobey these very rules.

It is unacceptable that cops who want to minimise infection are compelled to use rubbish bags because they don’t have masks.

We further put on record our utter disgust with the housing and local government minister.

Reports have emerged of Zuraida Kamaruddin, wearing precious personal protective equipment, “disinfecting” the streets using a bogus procedure. And, she moved about with a large retinue – including policemen!

Edict calls upon the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, to censure Zuraida.

Ministers who abuse scarce resources and “showcase” bogus procedures are simply unacceptable. – April 1, 2020.

* Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) is a non-profit organisation.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.