Squatgate - Best Practices

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Musa Hassan testified at the Commission of Inquiry that while duduk berdiri (sit and stand) was not written in the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders, “it was an accepted practice” and police personnel have been verbally told to make detainees perform the act.

Hi, it was an accepted practice!!!! Who accepted it? Police and government and Parliamentarians? Or, the unelected?

Accepted practices - in reference to what standard of practice and how was the standards being set? Did we have a personalized standard or did our police force follow some form of international or national recognized standard?

It somehow portrays high level of discretion and subjectiveness as to the practices and standards of a ROYAL POLICE FORCE! The term ROYAL must have its relationship to some form of respected regime in a democratic country.

And, why is it that the police personnel have been verbally told? In Malaysia, all government departments have their general orders, procedures and guidelines in well written and documented form. How is it that this practice is only verbal in its form. It does seem ritualisitic and intention reflects extreme flexibility in the application of the form of Rule of Law and natural justice. Aren't Malaysia a democratic country with a structured system and framework, guided by the principles of natural justice and the rule of law, coupled with a check and balance system to prevent abuses, discrimination and the protection of human rights?

Oh my God, it seemed that Malaysia is still existing in the stone-age and governance is much gorilla and dinasaur era.

According to Musa Hassan, detainees are only made to strip and squat in the nude when they are suspected of hiding contraband items in their private parts, and not for the sexual gratification of police personnel.

Isn't the video taping a form of sexual gratification?

"This practice was confined to people caught for serious crimes, drug-related offences and those picked up for suspected drug abuse at entertainment centres."

Hei, Lance Corporal Wan Zawati told the inquiry that she conducted this procedure on all female detainees. She said that if she did not order the procedure, disciplinary action could be taken against her if any contraband items were later found in the lock-up occupied by the detainee.

"So you conducted a strip search on all the women detainees for fear of disciplinary action?" Independent Commissioner Kuthubal Zaman Bukhari asked.

Wan Zawati (left) replied: "Yes.“

Are you sure? Because we are writing all this down," said commission chairman Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.

She replied: "Yes."

"Even on traffic or illegal immigrant offences?" asked Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim

"Yes."

Datuk Seri, your people do not concur with your statement and she is firm of the instruction to strip every one arrested for all sorts of offence.

Didn't you give them clear instruction on this practices?

Maybe, you should now!