Plans by the police to set up a special unit to investigate death in custody cases is the first step towards overall reforms to the detention system, according to the human rights group Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict).

It welcomed the reported plans announced by Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, stating that the move is in line with long-standing demands from rights groups that such cases not be investigated by police or authorities from the detention facility where the deaths had occurred.

"With the creation of this special unit, Edict hoped that...