Conditions in Malaysian detention camps do not meet international standards, said human rights watchdog Amnesty International's (AI) annual report.

The conclusion was drawn based on complaints by undocumented migrant workers and asylum seekers who were allegedly ill-treated in detention camps here.

"Conditions in detention camps, including the provision of adequate medical care, food and clean water, failed to meet international standards," added the report, which was launched today.

The 308-page report on 'The State of the World's Human Rights' covers 149 countries, highlighting the failure of governments and international organisations to deal with human rights violations.

Inadequate protection

In relation to Malaysia, the report lists concerns on the lack of fair individual assessment procedures for detained migrants, serious weaknesses in fair trial safeguards for those prosecuted under the Immigration Act, and inadequate protection for more vulnerable detainees including women and children during mass deportation exercises.

"With the authorities repeatedly failing to distinguish between people seeking asylum (mostly from Myanmar and Nanggroe Aceh in Indonesia) and suspected undocumented migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees remained at risk of detention and refoulement," it states.

As an example, AI cites the arrest of 30 Burmese nationals near the Kuala Lumpur office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in April 2004 where they sought to register as asylum seekers.

The deplorable conditions in detention camps here was previously raised by Irene Fernandez, director of migrant support group Tenaganita

"The truth is that detainees here only get a handful of rice with a small piece of salted fish, which is often rotten and smelly. Water is limited and water supply does not come through daily," she had said.

Her previous allegations on ill-treatment of migrant detainees had landed the activist a 12-year jail term after she was found guilty of spreading false news. She is currently on bail and appealing the decision.

Police violations

The report also touched on the need to address police violations of human rights in Malaysia.

"In countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines, police corruption denied people the protection of human rights," it reads.

The report mentions the case of missing police detainee G Francis Udayappan , who is alleged to have been beaten to death. However, the police say he escaped from custody by jumping into a river.

"A body believed to be that of Francis was found in a river in April (2004). He had been arrested on suspicion of theft of a mobile phone in Kuala Lumpur," the report says.

"Police said he drowned after escaping, but relatives said he had been beaten and died in police custody. After public protests, a coroner's inquest was opened in August and was continuing at the end of 2004."

Francis' mother had identified the highly-decomposed remains to be that of her son based on a tattoo and tooth deformity. However, a DNA test failed to produce a match with her blood sample. The inquest is underway.