The police commission today confirmed that it had called for a review of police powers to remand suspects to ensure that detention orders are only given in cases where there is sufficient evidence.

This will be proposed in its six-month interim report to the Yang Di Pertuan Agong - required as part of the commission's terms of reference - due on August 4.

Commission secretary Hamzah Md Rus said this recommendation together with other items were discussed during closed-door sessions with Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar and other senior officers.

Issues tackled included basic police procedures which have been ignored, such as investigating officers failing to inform families of those detained over their arrest and the reason for doing so.

"Problem is the public does not understand the roles of the police. Recommendations were also made for the police to take on the role of educating the public (of their rights)," he said when contacted.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said the commission's working committee's meeting with the IGP this morning to discuss police work ethics and standard operating procedures had been 'very frank'.

Complaints ignored

The working committee led by former lord president Salleh Abas, also consists of former IGP Hanif Omar ( photo ), Transparency International Malaysia's Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim and Kamilia Ibrahim of the Malaysian Muslim Women Consultative Council.

Among questions raised at the meeting, was why there are still many complaints of officers refusing to take down police reports at the counters, and unwillingness to investigate public complaints.

"It is amazing that up till today, despite the police commission having been set up to scrutinise police conduct, officers still refuse to take down public complaints. This was also despite directives from Bukit Aman," he said.

He said the commissioners were 'very happy' with how their views were received by the IGP, but they will not be making recommendations on this matter until more dialogue takes place to understand the limitations faced by the force.

Under Section 117 of the criminal procedure code, the police can obtain a remand order from the magistrates court to hold suspects up to 14 days without laying any charge.

Interest groups have raised concern over the provisions, claiming that police powers are too broad and are often abused by investigating officers who detain individuals who have not committed any crime.

Plagued by complaints of abuse, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) last year called on the courts to scrutinise each remand order made by the police under Section 117, but its recommendations failed to garner any response from the judiciary or the government.