COMMENT This is an open letter to the next prime minister of Malaysia from Lawyers for Liberty.

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you as a Malaysian human rights organisation concerned with the death of C. Sugumar on Jan 23, 2013.

As you would no doubt agree, the circumstances surrounding his death were appalling and very serious. He was chased by a group of uniformed policemen; he was quickly overpowered and handcuffed but in the process, a mob assaulted and stripped him naked and a policeman also smeared his face with turmeric.