Police have been urged to abide by the recommendations made by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in its report on the 100,000 People's Gathering at Jalan Kebun, Klang released yesterday.

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the police must implement the recommendations expeditiously as it will help enhance professionalism and refurbish their public image.

"The police should also, as suggested by Suhakam, conduct its own investigation into the Jalan Kebun incident and identify personnel who may be guilty of using excessive force or of unlawful beahviour," she said.

Suhakam released its 66-page report yesterday based on the findings by a three-member inquiry panel into allegations of police brutality during the Nov 5 gathering organised by Keadilan, considered as one of the biggest opposition rallies since 1998.

A massive police crackdown against the protestors along the Kesas Highway, the main road to the meeting venue in Jalan Kebun, saw 116 people arrested.

The panel, consisting of commissioners Anuar Zainal Abidin, Simon Sipaun and Mehrun Siraj, accused the police of cruelty and abuses of human rights.

The scathing report made a series of recommendations pertaining to the holding of assemblies, crowd dispersal methods, the treatment of detainees, as well as remand and police bail of arrested persons.

The report was released following an almost four-month inquiry which saw a total of 30 members of the public and 16 police personnel giving evidence.

Take action against errant police

Wan Azizah, one of the witnesses who testified in the inquiry, said it was also the responsibility of Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure that firm action was taken against police personnel who may have fallen foul of either the law or ethical standards.

"If after such a clear, candid report, Suhakam's advice is ignored by the authorities, it would only mean that the government has no respect for its own Human Rights Commission or for human rights principles," said Wan Azizah.

Yesterday, Abdullah, who is also the deputy prime minister, said that the police were often subjected to provocation and abusive language when controlling a hostile crowd, but he had reminded them to observe the law when discharging their duties.

Wan Azizah had earlier told the Suhakam inquiry that a tear-gas canister fired by police into the crowd at the gathering, was apparently aimed at her.

Another witness in the inquiry, Keadilan vice-president Zainur Zakaria, told malaysikini today that although the findings in the report may have no force in terms of law, the government and police should not reject it just because they were criticised.

"I agree with Suhakam's findings and feel that the police must accept the report with an open mind since their officers themselves were given a chance to give evidence, which they did," he said.

"The hearing was also done in a fair manner to everybody concerned. Therefore, there is no reason why there should be any negative response to the report."

Public apology

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the cabinet should direct Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai to tender a public apology for the police abuses and ask the Attorney-General to withdraw all charges pending in court in connection with the Jalan Kebun incident.

"I can personally vouch for the veracity of the findings about the widespread human rights violations by the police as I was present at the gathering together with other Barisan Alternatif leaders and can bear testimony as an eye-witness," said Lim.

He added that the cabinet's preparedness to give prompt attention to the report will indicate whether the government is serious in protecting human rights in the country.

"The cabinet in its meeting tomorrow should endorse Suhakam's recommendations to ensure that the police in discharging their role, are always mindful of their duty to promote and protect human rights in keeping with the Rukunegara commitment to maintain a democratic way of life in Malaysia," he said.

PAS MP for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar, who was one of the witnesses in the inquiry, echoed calls for action to be taken against police personnel who had violated human rights during the gathering.

"The findings of the report showed that police had acted violently and used militant elements. Norian, the state and district police chiefs should also face action for the abuses because police violations during the incident would not have taken place without their orders," he told malaysiakini .