After coming under fire over its alleged blatant disregard for human rights, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is reviewing its training syllabus.

The management of PDRM is reviewing the syllabus on basic policing (Plak) to also include aspects on human rights in the training of investigating officers at the Criminal Investigation Department and Traffic Branch.

Federal police management director Kamaruddin Md Ali said the study was among the recommendations by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police which was being implemented by the force to improve training of its investigating officers.

He said among the new features of the training programme would be to include the aspect of human rights.

"Plak which was implemented early this year gave wider exposure on human rights to participants," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Collaboration with Suhakam

Kamarudin said the review on Plak syllabus was carried out with the collaboration of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and local universities.

He said the Plak syllabus also included modules on criminal law, on the job training, work procedure, co-curriculum, ethics and integrity management and first aid.

The commission on the police was formed upon the instructions of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after an avalanche of complaints from the public.

The commission was tasked to investigate the complaints and provide recommendations of improving the police department.

Among its more pertinent recommendations was the setting-up Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Following the recommendation of another commission - formed to probe the case of a woman police detainee being forced to do ear squats in the nude - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave the green light for the IPCMC.