{
  "id": 5576674,
  "title": "Ban on lock-up attire must be made law, says Bar Council man",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/ban-on-lock-up-attire-must-be-made-law-says-bar-council-man-5576674",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T13:27:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/04/ban-on-lockup-attire-must-be-made-law-says-bar-council-man"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has proposed suspending the use of its orange lock-up attire for individuals under investigation when they appear in court for remand applications, according to Vivek Sukumaran, chairman of the Bar Council's criminal law committee. Sukumaran urged parliament to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to legally protect the treatment of these individuals, rather than relying on administrative decisions. He advocated for a written directive with a clear legal basis, ensuring the policy cannot be reversed without public notice. Sukumaran emphasized that this entitlement should apply to every unconvicted person, even those who do not cooperate with investigations, and extend to all enforcement agencies, including the police. He also called for MACC to publish data on the use of the attire, including how many people have worn it and how many were never charged or acquitted, describing this figure as \"the measure of harm.\" MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman clarified that individuals under investigation will be permitted to wear ordinary clothes in court, while the lock-up attire would only be required while they are in custody. This decision followed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's mention of the issue during a Cabinet meeting, following the use of orange lock-up attire by a former minister in remand for the royal commission of inquiry into Tabung Haji. Anwar stated that people detained by MACC for investigations should not be forced to wear the orange attire, as it could create negative perceptions about them. Those who fully cooperate with investigations should not be required to wear the attire when brought to court before being charged.",
  "summary": "Vivek Sukumaran says the Criminal Procedure Code should be amended to codify the treatment of people produced for remand.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ban on lock-up attire must be made law, says Bar Council man",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/ban-on-lock-up-attire-must-be-made-law-says-bar-council-man",
        "published": "2026-09-04T13:27:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}