One of the responsibilities of the newly established Police Royal Commission may include holding public inquiries into complaints on police misconduct and brutality, said panel member Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.

Commenting on one of the commission's terms of reference - which is to investigate the police's roles and responsibilities in enforcing the law - he said such a wide term should allow its members to look into public complaints against the police.

"The term of reference is very wide as it takes on board a whole range of police work and roles. So I think it would include such inquiries. I doubt there is any limit to it and I am sure there is ample opportunity for the public to raise their concern," he said when contacted today.

He said the commission would have to look into the facts of the complaints including deaths in police custody before making proposals on how such mishaps could be curbed.

However, he is unable to divulge how or who will be conducting the inquiries as the commission has yet to convene its inaugural meeting.

In 2002, 16 persons died in police lock-ups , while seven more died up to July 2003. It is also reported that 237 prison inmates died in 2002, while another 188 died up to July 2003.

Parliament was also told in April 1999 that 635 people had been shot dead by the police over a 10-year period.

Non-exclusive body

Tunku Abdul Aziz, who is president of Malaysia's Transparency International, also said that the public, including lawyers representing families of those who died during police detention, are free to submit their grouses and complaints to the commission.

"It (the commission) is not an exclusive body. It's for people with anything to say that can contribute into building a better police force. Complaints and suggestion are welcomed by the commission," he said.

On the suggestion for such inquiries to be held in public, he said that since the commission is not an "exclusive body", he saw no reason why this suggestion could not be considered.

"I am not familiar with the procedure but I am sure the inquiries could be carried out in public. The whole idea to set up the commission is all about being transparent and one of the ways to see that is done is to hold public inquiries."

However, another member of the commission, Bar Council chairperson Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari told malaysiakini that since there is ample law dealing with inquiries into the death of detainees, there may not be any need for the committee to assume such a responsibility.

"Currently there is a provision which enables a coroner to investigate into the death of detainees and some cases have been brought to court while others are still pending. Maybe it would be better for the commission to concentrate in finding ways to expedite police investigations into the deaths itself," he said.

He expressed confidence that the deaths of remanded police suspects will be one the commission's major considerations.

As the president of the Malaysian Bar, Kuthubul also assured that he would raise "a lot of issues" to the commission.

"The Bar Council has been many issues relating to the police during our regular meetings with the IGP (police chief). Some have been solved while others pending include the procedure of remand under section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code," he said.

The Bar chief said the council is very anxious to see to it that all suspects are allowed to communicate with their family within the first 24 hours of their arrest.

"Many families of arrested suspects are usually left in the dark as to the whereabouts of the detainees, so... these are among the things that I will raise."

Restoring cops' credibility

Yesterday the government announced the appointment of the 16-member commission which is formally known as the 'Special Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police' to be led by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.

Last December, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that a royal commission would be established to look into ways to modernise the police force and restore its credibility that has been tainted by corruption and alleged use of excessive force.

Meanwhile, former lord president Salleh Abas - who as a PAS politician is the only opposition member appointed on the panel - said he was unaware of the duties awaiting him as a member of the commission.

"It's premature for me to say anything without studying the roles of the commission. I don't even know when we will meet for the first time so I will not be able to divulge any information," he said when contacted.

He said that nothing much was relayed to him when the government informed him of his appointment.

Salleh, a Terengganu state executive councillor, also refused to comment on press reports that the prime minister had personally contacted him to convince him to accept the appointment.