Those arrested need to be given the due course of justice and not be arbitrarily treated by the police, said a politician today.

"The rule of law necessitates that a 'criminal' be apprehended alive, interrogated and be brought to justice," said Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) secretary-general P Uthayakumar.

Uthayakumar said this in a letter to de facto law minister Dr Rais Yatim today, which sought an appointment with the minister with regard to a memorandum from the party on the high incidences of police shooting.

The memorandum, entitled 'Illegal, Unlawful, Ruthless and Brutal Death by Police Shooting', was sent to Rais on Oct 17 last year.

Other recipients were Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Bar Council, Inspector General of Police Norian Mai, Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Attorney-General's chambers and the biggest Indian-based party in the ruling coalition, MIC.

Alarming statistics

Revealing that an average of 1.3 people were shot weekly by the police, the memorandum also called for a royal commission of inquiry to look into the alarming statistics. ([#1] Average of 1.3 persons shot dead by police a week, says memo to PM [/#])

Uthayakumar added that from the period of Oct 17 till the end of last year, the statistics of people dying from police shooting still remains at 1.3 a week.

He accused the police of being trigger-happy still, and shooting people without reason.

"The people no longer believe the 'standard story' of the police shooting at someone when the 'criminal' shoots at the police and the police returning fire and killing everybody in self defence," Uthayakumar said.