The police have denied taking part in any torture of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees during their initial 60-day detention, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) was told yesterday.

According to commissioner Hamdan Adnan, police officers stood firm on this statement during his visit to the police remand centre (PRC) in Kuala Lumpur's Ipoh Road.

"They do not understand why these allegations were hurled against them. They are not suppose to do these things. Every step taken by the detainees is recorded and such regulations are very strict there," Hamdan said when contacted today.

He was also told that policemen guarding the detainees were not allowed to speak to them and the only contact that detainees would have is with investigating officers from Bukit Aman.

Together with commissioners Choo Siew Kioh and Tunku Nazihah Tunku Mohamed Rus, Hamdan visited the PRC from 9am to 12 noon. They were also accompanied by senior officers from Bukit Aman.

Hamdan is also expected to visit a third remand centre on Aug 11. Suhakam is mandated to visit all places of detention.

Under scrutiny

PRCs recently came under intense scrutiny after alleged terror suspects complained to Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar during his visit to the Kamunting Detention Centre in May that they had experienced torture at the PRC's.

The matter was compounded by memorandums submitted to Suhakam by human rights groups.

There were also parallels drawn with the treatment meted out to ISA detainees with the inmates at the now infamous Abu-Gharib prison in Iraq.

ISA detainees are usually kept at the PRCs during the initial 60-days under the ISA. The internal security minister will then, should it be deemed necessary, sign a detention order to further lengthen the detention order.

The Suhakam visitors was also given a first hand look at the cells within the PRC. According Hamdan, the cells measured three by five metres with a height between five to six metres.

The doors have observation slots with ventilation in the rooms by way of an opening, built in such a way that any suicide attempt by hanging will be very difficult.

There were two suicide cases of detainees in the early 90' s and one died from sudden death in 1998.

Requirements met

Hamdan added that the cells complied with the United Nation's Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and that Suhakam would also be studying complaints about detainees being held in solitary confinement.

At the Ipoh Road PRC, Hamdan said six people were also being detained for drug-related offences.

"They seemed alright and are being fed at least four meals a day. They're also allowed to exercise," he said.

The PRC has four blocks with 64 cells.

Hamdan and his colleagues also visited another place of detention at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters. However, the detention facility there is not classified as a PRC, but an annex to the Jalan Tun HS Lee police station cells which were once used to detain notorious criminals.

In a related development, a statement from Deputy Premier Najib Tun Razak's office yesterday announced the appointment of three new Suhakam commissioners with effect from July 14.

They are historian Dr Khoo Kay Khim ( left ), lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah ( right ) and former Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) President and National Union of Teaching Profession secretary-general Siva Subramaniam.

Suhakam commissioners are usually appointed by the Yang d-Pertuan Agong for a two-year term.

The total number of commissioners now stand at 17.