The brother of human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail who was arrested this morning, has lambasted the police for not informing his family the reasons for his arrest.

Badaruddin's younger brother Azman Ismail said this indicated the level of incompetence in the police force as well as their impotence when taking instructions from their "political masters".

"The police force have no courage to stand up and be counted among those who are fighting for justice and security of this country," he said.

Suaram activist Badaruddin, popularly known as Pak Din, was detained by five plainclothes police personnel, possibly under the Internal Security Act, at a food court in Hulu Kelang while he was having his breakfast.

Azman said that this was not the first time Pak Din was arrested by the police.

"Pak Din, who has always been a man of integrity, was arrested before and was beaten to such an extent that he nearly fainted," said Azman in a letter to malaysiakini .

"His only crime was to fight for natural justice and the downtrodden."

Father a police officer

Azman, who said their father was a police officer, added that he had written three complaint letters to the police regarding the manner they handled Pak Din's arrest in 1998 as well as the beatings he suffered in the hands of the police.

He said that he has not received any response from the police regarding his complaints.

"I am proud of my father who was a police officer, but the police nowadays should be ashamed of themselves. They (in general) have no courage to stand up and be counted among those who are fighting for justice and security of this country," Azman said.

One of my other brothers, who was ironically beaten and arrested at the same time with Pak Din in 1998, was also in the police force.

"They (police) have not only earned the hatred of my family but the families of those who have been wrongfully arrested, beaten, tortured and killed by the police," added Azman.

"Such is the state of our country now but the future offers some hope as the rakyat are no longer apathetic."

Pak Din, 56, is married with three children and is commonly seen at reformasi gatherings taking photographs and notes. He is also a key contributor to the pro-reformasi Komentar website.