A teenaged witness told a Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry today she was beaten by riot police while watching a group of people gather at the Kesas highway at Bukit Rimau, near Klang, to attend the 100,000 People's Gathering on Nov 5.

"I was trying to run away but was caught. My head scarf was pulled off and I was elbowed and beaten with a baton. I fell onto the road in a daze but was ordered to get up and brought to a police truck," said Umi Jumaina Mohd Jan, 17.

She told the inquiry, headed by former judge Anuar Zainal Abidin, that she was returning to her school in Klang from a shopping trip to Kuala Lumpur when the incident occurred.

Hamidah Mat Som, Umi's mother, was also present today as a witness for the inquiry.

"I just wanted to accompany two of my children back to their school hostel. We had no idea that there was a gathering at the Kesas highway," said Hamidah.

According to Hamidah, the family had gotten out of their car on seeing the huge crowd at the Bukit Rimau toll plaza and then decided to perform their prayers at the toll plaza's office.

"There were two FRU trucks parked horizontally on the highway. There were also many people on either side of the road," Hamidah said.

"After we finished our prayers, my daughter (Umi) and I went down to the highway to see what was happening. My daughter saw Mohamad Sabu (the PAS MP for Kuala Kedah) in the midst of the crowd and she said 'That's Mat Sabu'," related Hamidah.

'Taking orders'

In her testimony, Umi said as she and her family were walking towards Mohamad Sabu, riot police suddenly rushed at them and started wielding their batons.

"Mohamad Sabu loudly told the policemen not to hit me. When the policemen caught hold of my hand, my mother tried to intervene but was also detained," she said.

She said her father, who was close behind, tried to tell the policemen that she was scheduled to take her SPM examinations but the policeman only replied that he "was taking orders".

Umi, who has just sat for her SPM examinations, also told the inquiry that she was verbally threatened while being remanded at the Port Klang police station.

She said while being interrogated by a policewoman, she was told that if she did not cooperate "her future would be in jeopardy".

When asked by Anuar if the police had read her her rights as a remand prisoner, Umi replied no.

"After I gave them my statement the policewoman said, 'We are not satisfied with your answer. You better tell us the truth. We will wipe your record clean if you cooperate'," Umi said.

Anuar is being assisted in the inquiry by Simon Sipaun, chairperson of the Sabah Civil Service Commission and Prof Mehrun Siraj, who is the former dean of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Law Faculty.

Representatives from the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers have been absent since the first day of the inquiry.

The inquiry will resume on Jan 2.