The government planned to make DNA sampling mandatory for criminals and crime suspects as part of a central data bank proposal, said de facto law minister Dr Rais Yatim today.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the government was studying a proposal for a central data bank to keep DNA records of criminals and suspects for easier anti-crime efforts.

"We will get the necessary input from various agencies before looking at whether we need to enact a law or amend existing o­nes," he told reporters after visiting the Petaling Jaya headquarters of the chemistry department - a government testing and research body.

Immediate data

"We need to recognise that a DNA data bank will be especially helpful to the police as the full data o­n a suspected or convicted criminal will be immediately available."

Rais said deliberations involved the Home Ministry, the Attorney-General's Chambers, the police and the judiciary.

The three-hour laboratory tour today included briefings at each of the sections for narcotics, serology/DNA, criminalistic, toxicology and documents.

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short, is the genetic imprint carrying each person's unique identity, except in the case of identical twins.

Apart from the various exhibits, methods using the latest forensics technology to obtain semen and blood samples from soiled clothes, verification of handwritings and signatures, and uncovering stolen vehicles were also shown.

Rais said the relevant agencies and the courts will also be consulted o­n the admissibility of evidence obtained from such a data bank.

No laws

"At the moment, there are no laws governing the legal admissibility of such evidence nor for retaining the DNA records anywhere.

"It is important to determine the conclusiveness of the DNA before injecting the mandatory requirement into the legal system."

In view of this, the minister said the Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code, Evidence Act and the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 will be reviewed.

"For example, the 1969 (Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons) Act is outdated as it o­nly prescribes fingerprinting and photographs for identification.

"That is why we need laws to specifically obtain DNA samples because there have been cases where individuals have refused to give their specimen," added Rais.

He also said that Malaysia was the first in the region to consider this proposal, which has been practiced in countries like Britain, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

"Britain, for instance, has about o­ne million samples in its DNA data bank."

Exchange data

Unlike Malaysia, he said other countries have various instruments to facilitate DNA testing and to maintain the records in a central location.

Rais was confident that domestic, regional and international anti-crime efforts would be successfully carried out with the help of a DNA data bank in the country.

"Malaysia would be able to exchange data with other countries in the future for a more concerted effort to combat crimes, particularly those involving cross-border and white-collar syndicates."

Two meetings have been held o­n the formation of the DNA data bank and Rais said conclusive and vital input will be sought from the chemistry department soon, especially to determine the specialised terminologies.