The three-month extension given to the royal police commission to submit its report was welcomed by the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee (PWHRC) today.

The organisation, which has been monitoring police abuse cases for more than a decade, had recently submitted a second memorandum to the commission - known officially as the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.

The extension, according to PWHRC, will allow the commission to carry out thorough research and investigation before producing the report.

"The extension will especially give the commission more time to study our recently submitted 153-page memo which has 15 categories on police abuses," said its legal adviser and co-founder P Uthayakumar when contacted.

Serious concern

PWHRC's memo - its second to the commission formed Feb 4 last year - covers 714 abuse and various misconduct cases reported against the police over a period of 13 years (1992 to Dec 31 2004).

The memo also included proposals and recommendations to the commission including calls for an independent tribunal and statutory amendments.

"We're happy as we had earlier written to the prime minister asking to extend the commission's term for a month but now its for three months," said Uthayakumar.

He highlighted the importance of a proper outcome from the commission as police abuse issues were of serious concern in Malaysia especially given the lack of disciplinary action taken against perpetrators to date.

"In our 13-year case study, we found that 98 percent of police personnel charged in court thus far have been rank-and-file members of the force, meaning those below the rank of inspector. The higher ranking and senior officers are rarely charged," he said.

Make it public

The royal commission's report, which is now due for submission to the king on May 3, is meant to recommend enhancements and modernisations to the police force while addressing complaints lodged against it.

The 16-member commission has not clarified if the report will be made public. However, the government said it will remain confidential until the king is allowed a perusal.

It is unclear if the report will be made public at anytime after and that has irked the PWHRC.

"We want the commission to make the report available to us and the general public on the same date it presents the king with it," demanded Uthayakumar.

He added that this must be made clear publicly as in his last meeting with the commission on Jan 20, he was told by commissioner Zaki Tun Azmi that the report's accessibility was a matter for the government to decide.

The commission was awarded the time-extension due to translation needs, incomplete public inquiries and last-minute report submissions.