Gerakan hopes that the government will take urgent notice of the recommendations made by Suhakam in its 2008 Annual Report and ensure that all existing laws and policies are conformed to and correctly implemented.

Suhakam, in its 2008 Annual Report tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, proposed that the police should strictly adhere to the statutory rights of an arrested person under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and also called on the police to attend training programmes to have a better understanding of how to combat crime but at the same time respect human rights.

“This is a pressing matter that deserves grave consideration from the government as there have been many cases of human rights violation and abuse,” said Deputy President Datuk Chang Ko Youn, who is also Central Bureau Head on Human Rights and Law.

Noting deaths in police custody as an example, Datuk Chang said that more should be done not only to take severe action on those who commit acts of abuse and torture, but to make sure that such acts are also prevented from being committed.

“In February 2005 Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his capacity as Internal Security Minister then, revealed that between 1990 and 2004, there were 159 deaths in custody. And up to 2009 we still approach such issues in a clandestine manner.”

“In this sense there has to be strict conformity, among others to the relevant provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) so that the rule of law is upheld at all times and that room for abuse is lessen. In addition police officers must also be educated on the importance of human rights and how crime and punishment and rights can be reconciled. Only through this way can the police force be effective in combating crime,” he noted.

“Above all the conduct of the police personnel must be transparent and whatever incidents must be made known to the public. This is not only to prevent abuse and torture, but also ensures that any violation of the law will be dealt with callously,” he further said.

“We will have to show the public that while we are stern in combating crime and punishing those who are responsible, we will not do so at the expense of respect for human dignity.”