The Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights has been given the go-ahead to send a fact-finding mission to the Kamunting detention centre in Perak next month to investigate alleged human rights violations by the camp authorities.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar said, when contacted today, that an application by the caucus to conduct the mission had been approved by the ministry.

The mission will focus on claims of human rights violations during a clash between the centre's inmates and guards on Dec 8 last year.

During the skirmish, believed to have started after prison officials were prevented from carrying out a routine spot-check, some detainees claimed to have been bound and beaten, and that they had their hair and beards shaved off.

Camp authorities have in turn accused the inmates of staging a 'revolt' using improvised weapons such wires, sharpened badminton racquet handles and knives.

The parliamentary caucus was formed three days after the incident following pressure from rights groups and Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, who called for an investigation into the clash .

'Good news'

Nazri, contacted today in Italy, said he knew that approval has been granted. He said the date for the fact-finding mission will be finalised after he returns on Feb 13 and discusses it with fellow caucus members.

He added that the committee members of the caucus would make up the fact-finding team. Lim is deputy head of the group, while the vice-chairpersons are Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh).

DAP's Fong Po Kuan, an assistant secretary of the caucus, welcomed the announcement.

"That's good news. However, we (the secretariat) have not been informed about it officially yet," she said when contacted.