An Umno leader who was allegedly abused by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers have found an unusual ally in the form of two Pakatan Rakyat figures.

Klang MP Charles Santiago (DAP) described the alleged physical and psychological abuse of Umno Maran division committee member Halimi Kamaruzzaman by MACC personel as an abuse of power.

"The commission officials cannot use a high-profile investigation of money politics involving an Umno politician aspiring to be elected to the party's supreme council in March to justify inflicting torture on Halimi," he said in a statement today.

Santiago suggests that the establishment of the long-delayed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to curb abuse of power during investigation process.

Following this, Santiago said the government should also ensure that the rights of a detainee must be clearly stipulated and incorporated into the Criminal Procedure Code.

Such provisions should include the duration of interrogation, methods of interrogation, the right to food, water and other necessities.

"Failure to do so will only provide the opportunity for more cases of custodial violence and death to keep occurring in the country," he said, adding that Parliament statistics shows that there were 1,535 cases of custodial death from 2003 to 2007.

‘MACC should be heroes'

Meanwhile, Federal Territories PAS Youth condemned the alleged abuse by MACC officers and urged the government to establish a special body to review investigation methods by enforcement authorities.

"We respect the duties of the enforcers but in many situations, they have to think before acting and not resort to shortcuts by torturing their detainees for information.

"Enforcement officials are not criminals. They are supposed to be the heroes of the rakyat and protect the country. But if they behave like criminals, where can the rakyat pin their hopes on?" asked FT PAS Youth information chief Herman Samsudeen in a statement.

Herman stressed that though Halimi was from Umno, FT PAS Youth is taking a position on his plight on humanitarian and religious grounds.

On Wednesday, Halimi, 46, reported the alleged abuse to the Damansara police station, whe he claimed to be assaulted during his four-day remand in Kuantan.

According to him, three MACC officers had punched him in the head, stomach and shoulder. He also claimed that he was kicked in the ribs and knee.

"I was also forced to strip naked, lie and roll on the floor. An officer choked me against the wall. They threatened me that my wife would also be arrested and be asked to strip if I did not agree to make a confession that I handed money to Umno members," said Halimi in the report.

MACC forms internal task force

In related development, the MACC said that the commission viewed Halimi’s claims of abuse seriously and had established a special task force to probe the matter internally.

“MACC also promises that investigations would be done professionally and fairly. The internal investigations would be monitored by the complaints committee formed under Section 15 of the MACC Act 2009,” said the commission in a statement late today.

According to Bernama , MACC said that the committee consisted five individuals, who are not part of the commission.

MACC also urged the police to take immediate action on Halimi’s complaints.

“If the allegations are not true and are meant to slander (the MACC), appropriate action should be taken against the complainant for lodging a false report,” said the commission.