A Malaysian woman forced to perform nude squats in police custody is suing for RM10 million (US$2.7 million) over the incident which triggered a national furore, reports said today.

The case emerged in June 2005 when it emerged there was a videotape of the incident and the issue was raised in Parliament. The woman was originally identified as a Chinese national, causing a strain in relations with Beijing.

After Malaysia had apologised to China, the woman was named as Hemy Hamisa Abu Hassan Saari, a 23-year-old ethnic Malay Malaysian.

Yesterday, her lawyers filed a letter of demand against the government, demanding a reply within the next 14 days, failing which they would proceed with the suit, the New Straits Times reported.

Public humiliation

"What happened to me was not fair," a tearful Hemy said at a press conference, partially disguised with dark sunglasses and a Muslim headscarf.

Her lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu said his client suffered public humiliation as a result of the circulation of the video, which was taken by a policeman.

"Although it has been a year since the incident, she is still traumatised," he said, according to the daily.

In January, Malaysia said it would introduce legislation to ban the practice of forcing detainees to strip naked and squat, after an inquiry panel called it a violation of human rights and unacceptable under Islam.

The practice is designed to dislodge any drugs or other items concealed in the body.