No more closed-door inquiries into allegations of police abuse - the human rights commission (Suhakam) has realised the need for everyone to be pro-active in resolving such complaints.

Commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan said Suhakam will hold public inquiries from now on, since the closed-door investigations held previously have not received an adequate response from authorities like the police and prison officials.

"We have looked into every complaint about police abuse and death of detainees but they were closed-door investigations. From now on, all inquiries will be open and anyone can attend," he told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

"I suppose publicity will do the issue a lot of good because the media provides important information to the public. If there is no pressure from the public, the relevant parties will not be bothered. In the past, we submitted our findings but the authorities seem not to have taken note."

He stressed that it is not the commission's intention to bash the police, but that it wants to address problems especially with the increase in complaints about police brutality.

"We are not here to blame anyone. We are here to investigate allegations and see to it that justice is done."

'Update search methods'

He said findings of inquiries are usually submitted to the authorities involved, the attorney-general and Parliament for further action.

"We only have the power to investigate, not to take action. We give our findings and make our recommendations but it's up to them to act. This is where the public pressure would help."

Mohd Hamdan said the decision (to hold open inquiries) will apply to all complaints lodged with immediate effect and that priority will be given to allegations of custodial death.

On a related issue, Mohd Hamdan said the police must find methods other than 'ear-squats' to search suspects.

"Is that the best way for them to search drug suspects? At a time when human rights are important, I think police must find some other way."

He added that even if the police choose to retain this 'tradition' , it must be used very sparingly.

"For example, when suspects are held for drink driving or forgery, what is the intention of such an exercise? What are they trying to find there?"

'Double standards' detected

Suhakam, he said, has appointed three separate inquiry panels to look into the most recent allegations of police brutality.

These involve college student Najmi Kamal Amir, the death of Ravidran Alagiry at the Jalan Patani police station last month, and the alleged suicide of Simpang Renggam detainee S Henry.

"We expect to hold our first public inquiry (involving Najmi Kamal) before the year ends," he said.

Before the press conference, Mohd Hamdan and fellow commissioner Siva Subramaniam received a complaint filed by Najmi Kamal ( photo ) and his father Amir Marzuki.

Amir expressed dissatisfaction with the delay of the police in responding to Najmi's complaint.

"There seems to be double standards when I see how fast the authorities reacted to the case of the woman who was stripped and forced to do 'ear-squats'. My son suffered more ... he was stripped, forced to do 'ear squats' and assaulted with a stun-gun."

He said the abuse did not stop even after his son was released, because his family suffered verbal abuse from policemen based at the Klang station.

"This took place last month and yet nothing has happened. Is it because we are only kampung (village) people? It was only after Prof Hamdan visited us that I felt someone has come to our aid."

He applauded Suhakam's decision to open inquiries to the public, saying that reliance could not be placed on police investigations into complaints of abuse.

"How can we believe their (police) findings? How can they judge their own? It's better to have an independent body like Suhakam to look into such complaints."