Latest news with #ArieDwiAndika
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Forensic crisis in Malaysia: Delays jeopardise justice system
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is grappling with a critical shortage of forensic experts, particularly in pathology and anthropology, raising concerns over delays in criminal investigations and the integrity of the legal system. There are currently only 31 registered forensic pathologists in the country under the National Specialist Register. This equates to a ratio of one forensic expert for every 1.1 million Malaysians, based on the 2024 population of 34.1 million. Law Enforcement and Investigation Association chairman Arie Dwi Andika, said the shortage is causing delays in conducting autopsies for certain cases. "Post-mortem examinations can only be carried out at government hospitals. If conducted in private hospitals, they must be performed by specialists registered under Section 330 of the Criminal Procedure Code," he said. He said that the number of government forensic specialists is inconsistent and cannot meet the demand, especially for serious cases such as suspected suicides. "Because of this, for certain forensic cases — especially serious ones such as suicides — it takes a long time as we have to wait for the availability of a qualified officer." "As a result, there are forensic cases where the findings cannot be obtained immediately — either because the results are not yet ready, or sometimes because there is no officer available to be assigned to the case," he told BH. Arie emphasised that post-mortems cannot be rushed, as doing so risks compromising the findings. "Conducting a post-mortem depends on the staff on duty. One officer may be able to handle two or three bodies a day." "In emergencies such as natural disasters, forensic specialists from other hospitals will assist — but this all depends on how the hospital's schedule is arranged," he added. He said that strict procedures must be followed to maintain the quality of autopsy results. "This is not like treating an outpatient who comes in with a fever. The post-mortem process involves multiple steps and must be conducted thoroughly." He outlined five key stages: determining the cause of death, identifying the body, analysing biological evidence, forensic entomology to confirm time of death, and final body management. "This issue is not about how many bodies we can process in a day — all relevant aspects must be considered." "We ask the public to understand and leave this work to the hospital. At the same time, the hospital must also explain to the public the realities of medical forensics." "Clear communication is important so that the public does not misunderstand why the post-mortem process takes time," he said.
New Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Animal rights groups call for action after lizards smuggled from India
KUALA LUMPUR: Animal welfare groups are calling for greater public awareness of the consequences of wildlife trafficking, following reports of a passenger smuggling two monitor lizards from Malaysia to India. They described the incident as an act of cruelty and stressed the urgent need for stronger enforcement and better public understanding of the impact of such crimes. Malaysia Animal Association president Arie Dwi Andika said the authorities must better educate the public and traders on the proper procedures for obtaining licences for exotic animals, to prevent illegal smuggling. He said the individual involved could face charges under two provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Peninsular Malaysia), for smuggling and animal cruelty. He added that those who deal with or trade in wildlife need to ensure all activities are carried out lawfully, to avoid breaching both local and international laws. "The issue now is that by breaking the law, it's not just our domestic regulations that are violated, but international implications are involved as well, and this ultimately harms the image and credibility of the government," he told the New Straits Times today. These comments come after Indian customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving at Tiruchirappalli International Airport from Kuala Lumpur with two monitor lizards hidden in his checked baggage. Photos released by authorities showed the two reptiles with their mouths and limbs tightly bound and wrapped in black cloth. Meanwhile, the Stray Animal Association of Malaysia president R. Kalaivanan said public education campaigns are essential to raise awareness of the environmental and legal consequences of trafficking. He said transporting them in confined and unnatural conditions cause extreme suffering, stress, and often death. Kalaivanan said the association strongly opposes such inhumane acts and remains committed to protecting vulnerable wildlife from exploitation. "It is imperative that authorities and airlines take immediate and comprehensive actions to prevent wildlife trafficking. "We urge for the implementation of cutting-edge technologies and stronger inspection protocols at all entry points, and staff must be thoroughly trained to identify and report suspicious activities, with heightened vigilance during peak travel periods," he said. Kalaivanan said the association is also committed to working with local and international agencies to push for policy reforms that prioritise wildlife protection at all levels. Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim had said they have yet to receive any reports on the smuggling.
