The Women's Agenda for Change (WAC), which represents seven women's organisations, today lashed out at the police for allegedly abusing civilians held under remand in police lockups.

WAC coordinator Maria Chin Abdullah told malaysiakini that the group is "aghast and angered by the systematic use of physical, psychological and sexual violence by the police against victims held in custody".

"We call for a stop to such abuses and that a thorough and impartial investigation be instituted immediately and the report be made public," she said.

"Public confidence in the police as law enforcers has been eroded by their violent acts," she said, adding that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence of police brutality in the country to warrant serious action.

Maria Chin cited seven specific cases of police brutality particularly that of Norazimah Mohamad who alleged that she was stripped naked and forced to do pushups in front of other detainees after she was arrested for taking part in a public assembly. (Abused female detainee to sue police, Nov 15)

Ordered to masturbate

She also highlighted the case of Abdul Rahman @ Abdul Aziz Abbas who alleged that police sprayed tear gas into the police truck where he had been held for six hours.

She said the two were held with 125 others at the Klang police station, after they were detained for being part of the crowd on their way to the 100,000 People's Gathering on Nov 5 organised by Parti Keadilan. (High noon on Kesas highway, Nov 7)

Maria Chin also said that investigations should be carried out immediately on claims by former remand suspect, How Soon Hock, that a police officer shot his right eye and blinded it while playing Russian roulette. (Gunshot victim told to lie to doctor, Oct 17)

There was then the recent case of a Thai woman who alleged that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by police officers and even offered RM2 to have sex in the toilet, Chin said.

She also mentioned the case of male remand suspects in Bentong, Pahang, who were allegedly asked to strip and masturbate and a case in Bintulu, Sarawak, where police allegedly threatened to burn a remand suspect's private parts.

"The above cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Detainees have much to fear as the police showed no respect for their dignity," said Chin.

She expressed disappointment that the police's immediate response to allegations of violence was to trivialise the incident or excuse themselves.

Shahrizat rapped

Chin also took to task Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Women's Welfare Council (Hawa) chairperson Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the latter's response to Norazimah's alleged treatment while in remand.

"The deputy minister's statement seems to justify police violence," she said.

Shahrizat said, when officiating the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women last week in Kuala Lumpur, that men and women "who flout the law must pay the price." ('Sexual harassment in police force not serious', Nov 8)

"Her comment seems to assume that the police can use violence against victims held under custody," said Chin.

"Shahrizat, as the head of women's affairs and a champion of women's issues, should be the first to investigate these allegations," she said, expressing regret over similar responses from other state authorities.

Chin called for the stringent punishment of those found guilty of violence while on duty. "They should be immediately dismissed without remuneration," she said.

WAC consists of the Women's Development Collective, Sisters In Islam, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Sabah, All Women's Action Society, the women's sections of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and Jemaah Islaah Malaysia, Women's Aid Organisation and the Malaysian Metal Industries Employees' Union.