SHAH ALAM - Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has alleged that its recent exhibition on deaths and torment in police custody was met with heavy police intimidation, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and accountability.
The three-day exhibition held in Penang on Dec 18 aimed to highlight systemic issues surrounding police accountability, referencing publicly available findings, including the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission's (EAIC) investigation into the death of S Balamurugan in police custody.
Balamurugan died in custody at the Klang Utara district police headquarters in 2017.
However, Suaram Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy claimed that police interference began even before the event’s commencement.
"We strongly condemn the police's intimidation before and during our exhibition.
"These actions not only disrupt civil society’s efforts to promote accountability but also create a chilling effect on public discourse about critical human rights issues,” Sevan said in a statement today.
According to Suaram, the night before the exhibition, over 10 policemen from the Timur Laut district police headquarters and central police station— including the head of the police station—visited the venue.
The cops allegedly photographed the exhibition props, subjected Suaram staff to intense questioning and attempted to collect the identification cards (ICs) of all staff members.
Police personnel reportedly raised concerns about a simulated logo used as a symbolic prop, claiming it could 'confuse the public'.
They also insisted that a permit was required for the event’s banner, despite the fact that the banner had not been displayed and was only temporarily placed outside during venue setup.
The following day, Sevan said patrol cars were seen outside while police personnel repeatedly attempted to enter the venue.
"Such police intimidation is unwarranted, particularly when the exhibition content is based on publicly available investigation findings by the EAIC into the death of Balamurugan in police custody," Sevan stressed.
He further highlighted the stark contrast between the Penang event and similar exhibitions held earlier this year in Selangor and Johor.
Those exhibitions, he stated, faced no such interference and even facilitated constructive dialogues with former and current commissioners from the EAIC and Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
"This latest incident mirrors the 2021 police raid on Freedom Film Network and Suaram over the screening of Chilli Powder and Thinner, an animated feature depicting suffering in custody.
"Both incidents reflect an unchanged and unconstructive police response to civil society efforts in highlighting systemic abuses, even when these efforts align with credible investigations and serve the public interest," Sevan said.
Suaram further argued that such actions undermine freedom of expression and the police’s own commitments to addressing human rights violations.
The organisation has called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution to take immediate action to eliminate longstanding practices of police surveillance and intimidation against civil society.
"If left unaddressed, the Prime Minister’s commitments to addressing deaths in police custody—including public statements on Suhakam Day and the establishment of the special task force on deaths in custody—risk being undermined, eroding public trust in the Madani government’s commitment to institutional reform,” Sevan added.
The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations.