The Bar Council today called for an independent investigation into the death of a man in police custody after his relatives stormed a morgue to find evidence he was killed.

Kugan Ananthan, a 22-year-old suspected car thief, died on Tuesday while undergoing police questioning, and the attorney general has ordered a murder investigation.

ambiga sreenevasan"This is not the first custodial death in recent years and our fear is that it will not be the last," Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenivasan said in a statement calling for an independent probe.

An initial autopsy reportedly found that Kugan died of "fluid in the lungs," but this did not satisfy his family and friends, who on Thursday barricaded themselves into the state morgue to take photographs of his remains.

Anwar: Don't make it racial

Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail said police had shown him pictures of the body taken by relatives.

kugan ananthan funeral 230109"We agreed that the incident be classified as murder as there were bruises on the body," he told the New Straits Times.

"If investigations reveal that he died from being assaulted, then those responsible will be charged with murder."

Human rights groups say the Malaysian police have a reputation for violence against suspects, with one reporting at least seven deaths in police custody last year.

anwar ibrahimOpposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said the government should not allow race to affect the case.

"We must not make this a racial issue. Just because an Indian is involved does not make it any less important" he told reporters today.

"As a Malay, I don't think it is wise to defend the crimes and abuses of the government. We must defend the rights of all Malaysians," he added.