KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): Malaysia reported 24 deaths under the custody of the Royal Malaysian Police last year, fewer than 46 deaths recorded in 2021, according to the Home Ministry.

Of the 24 lives lost in police custody last year, the ministry said 11 of them passed away while in the lock-up, while 13 of them died during medical treatment in hospitals or clinics, or during the journey for medical assistance.

In 2021, 14 of the 46 cases died in lock-up, while the remaining 32 deaths happened during medical treatment in hospitals or clinics, or during the journey for medical assistance, the ministry told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Feb 27) via a written reply.

The ministry was responding to Zahari Kechik (PAS-Jeli), who asked about statistics of deaths in custody from 2021 to 2022, and the government’s efforts to address the issue.

The ministry said steps taken so far include setting the standard operating procedures of handling detainees in lock-up, establishing custodial health units via collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and installing close-circuit television cameras in lock-ups for monitoring purposes.

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