We only want answers. This is the simple plea of the parents of K Suresh, 26, who died after apparently hanging himself in a police lock-up last Friday.

They told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today that the police have failed to answer any of their questions relating to their son's death.

Suresh's mother Liew Kiew, 47, and father R Kunasekaran 57, together with NGO Alternative Action Team and supporters were at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to submit a memorandum to commissioner N Siva Subramaniam.

Earlier, at 11.30am, the group of 100 went to the Bukit Aman police headquarters to see Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan for a clarification, but did not succeed in meeting him.

"They did not give any explanation. They keep saying that they don't know," she said of police personnel who handled their enquiry.

Liew told reporters that Suresh was picked up by a patrol car at his Taman Bukit Teratai home in Kajang and taken to the Bukit Sentosa police station about 11.30am last Friday.

A policeman knocked on the door around midnight and told her that Suresh had hung himself in the women's cell.

"All he told us was that he killed himself with a saree. The policeman left before we could ask for more information. We want to know why the saree was left in the cell," she said.

The body was sent to the Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital where a post-mortem conducted the following day showed that there was 'no foul play'.

Bad bruises

Speaking in a sombre tone, Liew said she has not eaten for four days and has trouble sleeping.

"We saw the body ... he was very badly beaten on the side of the head. If he had hung himself, why were there such bad bruises?" she asked.

The parents lodged a report at the Hulu Selangor police headquarters on Saturday, believing that Suresh did not take his own life.

They asked Suhakam to launch a public inquiry into this matter.

Asked what immediate action could be taken, Siva said: "Suhakam has announced that we'll take cases of death in police custody very seriously. I will table this at the commissioners' meeting on Nov 13, for a public inquiry."

Siva had visited Suresh's cell with Kunasekaran on Saturday.

Complaints about Rela

Earlier today also, several NGOs handed a memorandum to Suhakam calling for investigations into the abuse of human rights by Rela (people's volunteer corps) personnel against undocumented migrants.

Representatives of Suaram, Kumpulan Acts and Chin Refugee Centre demanded an independent inquiry into the 'abuse of power and unlawful violence by this untrained volunteer group'.

They also sought the immediate release of asylum seekers and refugees arrested by Rela, especially children, pregnant women and those who are ill.

After seeing evidence such as police reports, photographs and testimonials, Siva ( pix ) told those present that Suhakam would co-operate with top-level Rela members in tackling the problem.

"Suhakam is deeply concerned that Rela is acting with absolute powers. We have met with Rela and we're discussing possibilities to train their officers," Siva added.