Charles Hector of Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) urged the coroners to do so in the wake of the 16th custodial death that was reported on May 8.

“There is still a disturbing silence on the part of the coroners in Malaysia regarding the status of their inquiries into these deaths in custody, and media reports have mostly been about police investigation and findings,” said Hector in a statement today.

“The coroners must announce what is happening on their inquiries into the last 15 custodial deaths in Malaysia. What are the coroners’ findings? Will there be inquests?”

Hector suggested that the names of the coroners conducting the inquests be made public so that members of the public could reach out directly to them for relevant information on any custodial deaths.

He also suggested that the home ministry provide updates on the plan to instal body cameras on police personnel, which would help ensure documentary evidence right from the point of arrest.

Last year, home minister Hamzah Zainudin said in a parliamentary reply to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng that the ministry was finalising the specifications of bodycams it planned to purchase for the police through the ePerolehan (procurement) system.

He said 2,040 cameras were slated to be purchased and distributed to 85 locations, including police stations, district and state police headquarters as well as Bukit Aman as part of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

On May 8, a 48-year-old man died in a lock-up at the Seri Alam police station in Masai, Johor, becoming the 16th custodial death this year.

Today, Bukit Aman integrity and standards compliance department director Azri Ahmad said the detainee died due to Covid-19-induced pneumonia.