An international human rights group has urged allies to pressure Malaysia to stop using torture as part of its counter-terrorism efforts.

Human Rights Watch Asia Division deputy director Phil Robertson said recent torture allegations were merely the latest in the 'long, horrific record' of torturing suspects by the Malaysian police and shielding the perpetrators.

“In ordinary circumstances, I'd call on inspector-general of police to investigate, but he's already ignored dozens of serious allegations of police torture, so he's hopeless.

“The only hope for justice is a truly independent investigation. But I hardly expect the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to have the political will to see such an inquiry through.

“So, it really falls to President Barack Obama and the United States, and other countries allied with Malaysia in the so-called 'war on terror', to tell Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that such police abuses have no place in any counter-terrorism effort.

“And they also have to demand that policemen responsible be identified and prosecuted for using torture,” Robertson ( photo ) told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on Suaram's revelation on Monday of seven letters purportedly written by Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) detainees detailing their torture while held in police custody.

Suaram has released six of these letters, while the seventh letter is being withheld because of legal ramifications.

Among others, the detainees claim to have suffered various forms of beatings and threats, as well as humiliating and degrading treatment.

The alleged torture took place during the investigation phase of their detention, which allows police to hold suspects for up to 28 days before releasing them or charging them in court.

Suaram said all the detainees have since been charged.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said on Monday that those making allegations of torture should lodge police reports and the police would investigate.

Suaram said that the detainees' next-of-kin have already lodged the reports and in some cases, police have already recorded statements from the detainees, but there has been no progress since.

Enforcement Agencies Intergrity Commission (EAIC) chief commissioner Yaacob Mohd Sam when contacted said arrangements have been made with Suaram for it to deliver a memorandum to EAIC officials on this matter.