MACC defends practice of producing suspects in orange suit

This comes after a lawyer says it violates the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today defended its practice of producing graft suspects in court clad in the commission’s orange lockup suit, after a lawyer said it violated the Federal Constitution and prison regulations.

“Anyone can say whatever they want. So if you are not satisfied, you can bring it to court,” said MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad.

Rights lawyer and Padang Serai MP N. Surendran today questioned MACC and the police for forcing suspects to wear lockup uniform.

Two high-profile MACC detainees this week were brought to court for their remand hearing clad in MACC’s orange suit. They are former Felda chairman Isa Samad and Penang exco Phee Boon Poh.

Surendran, citing Article 5 of the Federal Constitution as well the Prisons Regulation 2000, said an arrested person could lawfully decline to wear the lockup uniform.

“Being forced to wear these bright orange uniforms and being paraded thus in the court premises is humiliating to the arrested person and creates the perception that he is indeed a wrongdoer or criminal, even though the court has not pronounced guilt,” he said.

Surendran also said Regulation 168 of the Prisons Regulation 2000 made it mandatory for prison authorities to allow unconvicted prisoners to wear their own clothes.

But Dzulkifli was adamant that MACC had followed the law.

“You read Article 5. Does it say anything about wearing the orange lockup uniform?

“If you say it is unconstitutional, go to court and challenge it. We have our rights too. That is why the court exists,” he said in a terse reply when pressed by reporters.

Dzulkifli was also asked about Isa’s appearance in court yesterday without the usual handcuffs.

“I believe the enforcement officers, in exercising their discretion had valid reasons for doing so,” he said. - FMT