The police will be sending officers to testify at the ongoing Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry into the alleged police brutality on Kesas Highway, Shah Alam during the "100,000 People's Gathering" on Nov 5 last year if they are summoned to do so.

"We will be send our people to the inquiry next month but this will be subject to the rules and regulations that govern the police force,"said Supt Benjamin Hasbi, head of public relations at the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

He added that there was never a question of the police not sending representatives to the inquiry the only fact being that the police had certain procedures governing the producing of witnesses or documents.

"It is not that we are reluctant but we are obliged by the letter of the law as stated within the Suhakam Act to appear before the inquiry.

"We have procedures and regulations even for public inquiries and these are known as standing orders of the Inspector General of Police, provided under Section 97(3) of the Police Act, which requires the necessary instructions to be given by the IGP before we proceed, " Hasbi said.

He added that the police were also concerned about human rights and would fully cooperate with Suhakam.

Another gathering

The Nov 5 gathering organised by Keadilan last year was aborted after police stopped participants from going to the venue at Jalan Kg Kebun, Shah Alam, by cordoning off all entries to the place from the Kesas Highway, creating a massive traffic jam in the process.

Anuar Zainal Abidin, who chairs the three-member panel on the inquiry, told reporters yesterday that he would summon the police to be present at the inquiry's next session on Feb 13.

Keadilan is planning another gathering on Jan 20 in Kuala Langat to celebrate Hari Raya, Christmas and Chinese New Year and Ponggal in Kuala Langat.

Chairman of the organising committee, Saari Sungib, who confirmed receiving a police permit for the event this afternoon, said the gathering, to be held in the residence of a supporter, would begin at 2.30pm in Kampung Medan , Telok Panglima Garang at the Klang-Banting exit on the Kesas highway.

Invitation misplaced

Meanwhile, the Klang district OCPD, SAC (II) Karn Kam Peng stated that he was willing to apologise to Bandar Klang state assemblyman Teng Chang Khim if the latter had not received an invitation to a recent Hari Raya gathering organised by the police..

"If the invitation sent by my assistants had not been received by Teng, then the invitation could have been misplaced.

"I, then, as the senior officer, am at fault and am willing to meet him and extend my apologies to him," Karn told malaysiakini today.

Teng, who is also DAP youth chief, released a press statement on Wednesday claiming that the police were biased, inviting only government coalition party politicians and not him or other members of the opposition to the Hari Raya gathering.

"I was told by my officers that the invitation had been given to a representative. There were too many functions happening at the time," Tan said.