THE Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has not made any progress in addressing the issues of custodial deaths, said P. Ramasamy. 

The Penang deputy chief minister added that EAIC was only a political setup to reduce demands for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

“EAIC was formed not so much to investigate complaints about government personnel, but to ensure independent bodies are not set up to investigate government personnel. 

“In a more precise sense, it was to drown the demand or clamour for an independent investigative body with enforcement powers to police misconduct that the EAIC was offered as an alternative, a poor one indeed. 

“It is obvious that despite the establishment of the EAIC, custodial deaths have increased in the police stations across the country,” the DAP leader said in a statement today. 

He added that EAIC had failed to address the persistent issue of police custodial deaths, adding that it has never even played its advisory role effectively. 

“I am yet to hear the EAIC calling for an inquest in the deaths of A. Ganapathy, S. Sivabalan and Surendran Shanker, the victims of custodial deaths. 

“Anyway, what has EAIC done to examine the history of custodial deaths in the country at least in the last 20 years or so?” he asked, referring to the recent spate of custodial deaths. 

He added that it has become more urgent to have an independent enforcement commission such as IPCMC to act against unlawful acts of the police force, including cases of custodial deaths. 

Yesterday the EAIC said it viewed custodial deaths seriously, including three cases that were reported by a local news outlet. 

The EAIC said in a statement that a comprehensive and detailed study regarding issues associated with reported custodial deaths will be conducted. 

On May 1, the EAIC established a custodial death research committee chaired by EAIC deputy chairman Zainun Ali. – May 30, 2021.