The brother of a woman who died in police custody made an emotional plea today for the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

At a gathering outside the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya, Monashofian Putra Zulkarnain said his sister's death should not be in vain.

Samiyaty Indrayani, 45, was the first woman to die in police custody. While her family suspected foul play, the authorities classified it as 'sudden death'.

The mother of five was arrested on Sept 10 over drug-related charges. She was found dead in her cell at the Wangsa Maju police station in Kuala Lumpur three days later.

"When I saw her body in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, her face had bruises, her body had bruises, her feet and neck had bruises," Monashofian told the 70 people who gathered to support the submission of a memorandum on the IPCMC.

"Imagine this happening to your brothers and sisters! This will continue if the IPCMC is not set up now!" he said in reference to the feet-dragging by the police in investigating Samiyati's death.

Human rights group Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng, who also addressed the crowd, said police abuses continued to be reported to Suaram up to this day and would not cease until there is an effective redress mechanism.

Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh led a 10-member delegation representing non-governmental organisations (NGO) and political parties to submit the memorandum to the prime minister's senior private secretary Ahmad Yaakob.

The memorandum was endorsed by more than 300 NGOs and political parties.

New Year's gift

Speaking to reporters later, Yeo said the message conveyed to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the support that the IPCMC had from Malaysians regardless of race, religion or social background.

He also urged the premier to establish the IPCMC immediately and questioned the delay in setting up the body despite recommendations for its immediate implementation by no less than two royal commissions of inquiry.

The IPCMC would go a long way towards improving the integrity of the police force, said Yeo, adding that its establishment now would be the 'best new year's gift' for the people.

The IPCMC was first mooted in May 2005 by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police Force, set up on the orders of Abdullah himself, as one its main recommendations for the improvement of the police force.

A five-member inquiry body to look into the incident where a woman detainee was made to do 'ear-squats' in the nude also called for the IPCMC to be formed.