A police watchdog group has requested a meeting with the newly-appointed Police Royal Commission head Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah next Tuesday to highlight police brutality cases.

The Police Watch and Human Rights Committee faxed its request to Dzaiddin today. A copy of the letter was also sent to the office of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The five-page letter was signed by the Police Watch legal advisor and co-founder P Uthayakumar, who hoped the commission could meet with them before its first meeting scheduled for next Wednesday.

The committee is among several non-governmental organisations which have repeatedly called for a royal commission of inquiry to revamp the police force through despatching hundreds of letters, memorandums and protest notes to the relevant authorities since 2000.

First of its kind

"Our prayers have finally been answered and we wish to thank the prime minister for having appointed this royal commission to revamp the police force which is the first of its kind in our 47 years of independence," Uthayakumar said in the letter.

The letter also listed part of the Police Watch's reference manual on police abuses from Oct 17 2000 to Jan 28 this year and their 'report card' on the police force from Jan 1, 1993 till Dec 31 2003.

The idea of a Police Royal Commission was mooted by the premier last December to modernise the police force and restore its credibility that has been tainted by corruption and alleged use of excessive force.

The 16-member commission headed by former Chief Justice Dzaiddin was announced by the government on Wednesday.

The Police Watch has been persistent in highlighting cases of police abuse and brutality and has even won Suaram 's annual human rights award in 2002.