Malaysian Prime Minister Orders Full Investigation Into Custodial Death

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered a thorough police investigation into the death of forty-two-year-old Noorizwan Zulkefly, who died in custody at the Cheras police headquarters after his arrest in September.

Noorizwan was detained on September 19 regarding allegations of drug possession, theft, and a break-in before being taken to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz on September 30, where he was pronounced dead on October 1.

The case has intensified public scrutiny regarding law enforcement accountability and treatment of detainees in police custody across Malaysia.

Legal representatives disputed statements issued by Bukit Aman concerning the autopsy results.

Lawyers Rania Aljunied and Dina Zamri stated that hospital findings revealed generalized bleeding in the brain and intestines.

In a joint statement, the attorneys said, "There are autopsy photographs clearly showing these injuries. In the face of this evidence, how can Bukit Aman issue a public statement claiming that there were only external injuries, and no internal injuries?"

Federal police previously announced that the post-mortem identified several external marks but no internal harm, adding that the official cause remained undetermined pending laboratory analysis.

The family's lawyers argued that the identified blunt force trauma to the head established the cause of death independently of pending blood tests.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail directed the Criminal Investigation Department to execute an expedited inquiry into the unusual injuries discovered on the body.

Mohd Khalid told reporters that authorities would release official findings once the complete medical documentation was finalized.

The victim's relatives and legal counsel urged Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to reclassify the proceeding from a sudden death report to a murder investigation.

Family members also demanded the immediate suspension and detention of the officers suspected of involvement while inquiries continue.