Bar chief calls for protocol on police statements to media
The Malaysian Bar has called for a national protocol on police statements to the media, to set clear boundaries on what information can be publicly disclosed by the police
Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said premature disclosures by the police could jeopardise the right of an accused person to a fair trial, by creating public perceptions that may prejudice suspects before the courts have spoken.
“Transparency is best achieved through neutral status updates, not through disclosure of specific evidence or identities,” he said. “Such disclosures can cause unnecessary harm to suspects and their families, including stigma, harassment and reputational damage,” he told FMT.
Ezri said police should only provide the public with basic facts on investigations and other routine processes such as site visits, post-mortems or forensic analyses.
He also…
