KUALA LUMPUR, May 29- The Civil Defence Act 1951 amendment to restructure the organisation and functions of the Malaysian Civil Defence department in line with current developments would be discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo) said certain sections in the Act did not clearly define the management structure and responsibilities of the department with regards to disasters or emergencies.
“The Act is too general. With the amendment it is hoped that the department’s delivery system would be improved, particularly in disaster and emergency management,” he told reporters after a working visit to the department at Jalan Semarak, here, today.
Ahmad Zahid said the department would enhance its efficiency in disaster and emergency management by increasing its ambulances to 90, half of which would be allocated this year while the other 45 units, next year.
Meanwhile, the minister said installation of CCTVs in police lockups and setting up of centralised lockups were among proposals submitted to the home ministry to enhance police detention procedures.
He said the move was to clear the negative image that the public had of the police.
“The CCTV would record the going-on in the lockup, and should an injury or death occur, the recording could be used as evidence.
“We are also proposing to not place accused persons at police stations and will request to the government for more centralised lockups such as that in Jinjang so that police will not be continuously condemned for mishaps in lock ups during interrogation,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid urged the public to place their confidence in the ministry with regards to the ongoing investigation into the death of a detainee, N. Dharmendran, 32, at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters lockup, on Tuesday.
– BERNAMA
