A police complaints tribunal should be set up for the public to direct their grouses against the police, a political party proposed today.

Secretary-general of the pro-tem Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) P Uthayakumar, in a letter to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim, said the proposed tribunal will provide for greater transparency, accountability and responsibility on the part of the police force.

The letter calls on the minister to initiate changes in the 1967 Police Act and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to deter rampant abuses of power practised by the police in handling remand detainees.

Uthayakumar also proposed that the tribunal should include members of the public.

"It must also include a representative from the police force and one member each from the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), National Human Rights Society (Hakam), Bar Council, human rights group Suaram, and the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee of Prim," he said.

Abuses in remand cases

In the letter, Uthayakumar, also the legal adviser for the committee, said the police were abusing their powers in dealing with remand cases, and as such it was necessary for the changes in the law to provide additional safeguards against such abuses.

He also cited statistics from the United Kingdom which show the high degree of police efficiency there when it comes to dealing with remand suspects.

"In the UK, the police also investigate first before arresting a suspect, but here the police will detain a person first and then proceed to investigate his alleged involvement in a crime," he said.

Uthayakumar also said reports on all police abuses of detainees must be completed within one week and if the policeman responsible is not charged, "Suhakam can review the case and be given the powers to direct the Attorney-General to prosecute".

He added that all police assaults, electric shocks and other abuses during interrogation on detained persons must be made a criminal offence punishable with at least six years' jail and two strokes of rotan .

Other proposals suggested by Uthayakumar included reducing the 15-day maximum remand period allowed by the CPC to six days.

Special diary

He also suggested the CPC be amended for the introduction of a special police diary for remand cases, as at present a few loose sheets are being given to the magistrates by the police in place of a police diary to show the stages of investigations.

"A 24-hour telephone line should also be opened in Bukit Aman and handled by police officers of the rank ASP and above to answer complaints by the public and lawyers on mishandling of remand cases," he added.

Uthayakumar also said within two hours of arresting a person, his family or lawyer must be informed of the reasons of the arrest through an "arrest certificate".

The certificate must also include the identity of the investigating officer, when and where the prisoner will be brought to court and charged under which specific section, added Uthayakumar.