An internal investigation into the 'naked ear squats' incident has found that police personnel did not breach the law, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar.

"I dare to say that everything (in the case) followed the rules," he told reporters at Parliament House today.

However, he declined to divulge details, saying an explanation would be given to parliamentarians tomorrow if an emergency motion on the matter is allowed.

This morning, Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) filed the emergency motion. In exposing the case last week, she showed a video clip of the alleged incident at the Petaling Jaya police station.

Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib said the notice of motion had been submitted to him after 12 noon last Friday, and thus did not meet the 24-hour period required under the rules.

He rejected Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang's application to invoke the Speaker's rights to adjourn the House and debate the motion immediately on grounds that the matter is not just an emergency, but of a critical nature.

Discussion with IGP

Noh said he had received a report from the police and that he had discussed the matter with Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohd Bakri Omar this morning.

"Since there was no debate today, I will answer in Parliament tomorrow if the motion is passed.

"Otherwise the IGP will make a statement," he said adding that MPs could also raise the matter during the Supply Bill 2006 committee stage debate relating to his ministry next week.

Asked to comment on the views of human rights lawyers who have described such strip searches as illegal, Noh said those not satisfied with the procedures are welcome to sue the police or the government.

"Let the court decide. We make the law, even laws in Parliament can be challenged. How can you just make the statement? Sue lah the government, you can challenge it if you think the rules are not right," he added.

The video clip showed a nude woman being forced to do 'squats', after a female police officer indicated with her hands that the detainee was to hold her ears while complying with the order.

When the clip was shown to ministers and the press in Parliament last week, it sparked outrage that has since spread across the globe.

Incident recalled

In Parliament today, backbenchers and Opposition MPs held separate press conferences to denounce the act.

Norazimah Mohd Nor, who had experienced similar trauma five years ago, turned up today, accompanied by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim, Kok and other Opposition MPs.

Still emotional over the incident, she reiterated how she had been abused after being arrested on Nov 4, 2000. While held at the Kapar police lock-up, she claimed she had been forced to strip naked and to do push-ups.

Norazimah was detained while setting up a stall to sell reformasi merchandise a day before the scheduled '100,000 People's Gathering; organised by PKR at Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam.

Gerakan deputy secretary-general and parliamentary secretary of the Health Ministry Lee Kah Choon said the party would print pamphlets to educate the public and police personnel on their rights.

"The public generally don't know their rights when they encounter police personnel. Lower-ranking police personnel sometimes don't know what they can or cannot do with detainees," he said.

He added that the pamphlets would also be distributed to embassies to advise their nationals about the laws in Malaysia.