Evidence clause in DNA Bill scrapped
(NST) A CLAUSE providing that DNA evidence introduced in court is conclusive has been dropped from the final version of the controversial Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Identification Bill 2008.
"It has to be corroborated now. It is no longer conclusive as stated earlier," Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said as he introduced nine changes to the bill at the committee stage.
The bill was passed.
He said the changes were introduced to accommodate suggestions made by members during the debate at the policy stage last year.
The changes also included some proposals by non-governmental organisations such as the Bar Council, Abu Seman said.
One of the grouses against the proposed legislation by the opposition was on the appointment of the head of the Malaysian Forensic Data Bank which, in the original text, was to be helmed by a serving police officer.
The opposition had claimed that the appointment of a police officer would constitute a conflict of interest as the police could tamper with evidence to fit their case.
However, the government has amended this clause to allow for the appointment of any serving government officer who has knowledge and expertise in DNA science.
"This change allows for people with the right qualifications to be appointed to the position of head and assistant," Abu Seman said.
Opposition members, however, argued that the bill did not say that police officers were excluded from being appointed to the position.
"The police officer can be trained in forensic science and become qualified to be appointed," argued R. Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).
Abu Seman brushed this objection aside and said the opposition should view the changes positively.
Several changes sought by the oppposition members — Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang), Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Pas-Kuala Krai), Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) — were rejected.
The Dewan Rakyat passed the controversial Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Identification Bill 2008 after introducing nine changes to the bill at the committee stage.
