Cabinet approves permanent coroners court in each state

The Cabinet has decided to create a permanent Coroners Court in each state to handle custodial deaths, said Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri.

"The Cabinet approved the proposal to set up the courts as the most effective way of handling custodial deaths," she said at a press conference attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Minister in Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan here yesterday.

She said the coroners would be appointed from Jusa C grade (Civil Service Premier Position) magistrates and assisted by forensics teams.

Meanwhile, Paul Low said the department was looking into ways to strengthen the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) in order to convince the public of the importance of its role.

He said the EAIC was established last year and has the power to take action against enforcement personnel who break the law.

Ahmad Zahid said the cabinet had also agreed to build centralised detention centres equipped with closed circuit television nationwide, estimated at not more than RM25 million.

Commenting on the proposal that the top two Umno posts should not be contested at its general assembly, Ahmad Zahid, who is party vice president said he and the other two vice presidents Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had agreed on the matter.