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©The Star (Used by permission)
By Anuradha Raghu

The nude-squat fiasco last year spurred a group of lawyers to form an informal group known as Tindakan Anti-Penyalahgunaan Kuasa Polis and produce the self-funded Red Book. This pokcket-sized book entitled Polis dan Hak-hak Asas Anda contains valuable information on the public's basic rights when facing the police.

JOHOR BARU: Ganggadanarn Kurumpan walked into a bank recently to update his bankbook but was instead greeted by about 50 lawyers holding stacks of red books.

One of the lawyers handed him a pocket-sized book entitled Polis dan Hak-hak Asas Anda - a book printed in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil that contained valuable information on the public’s basic rights when facing the police.

“I have not heard of this book but will take a look at it when I get home,” said 45-year-old Ganggadarnarn.

Johor Bar Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdullah said that many members of the public were not aware of their rights when confronted by policemen.
He said by creating awareness, cases of violence in lockups could be prevented.

“Some members of the public have be taken advantage of because of their ignorance,” he said and gave a few examples of what police were allowed to do when conducting a body search.

The nude-squat fiasco last year had spurred a group of lawyers to form an informal group known as Tindakan Anti Penyalahgunaan Kuasa Polis which worked at printing the Red Book.

It was officially launched by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz on April 20 and was subsequently endorsed by the Bar Council.

However, it was made clear that the Bar Council was not going against the police.

Bar Representative Roger Tan Kor Mee said it would be convenient for the police if members of the public knew their rights.

“Our aim is not to work against the police but to educate the public so that they will be more conscious of their rights and co-operate with the police,” he said.

He said that 10,000 copies of the book had been distributed in Kuala Lumpur and Johor, and due to the overwhelming response, another 100,000 copies would be printed and distributed in the rest of country.

After distributing the books at the bank, the lawyers made their way to City Square Shopping Complex where they handed a copy to housewife Noraishah Mohd Nor, 30, who was having a meal.

“It is really useful and provides a lot of info,” she said, adding that one did not know when one might need it.

Kasturi Konasegaran, 26, and Subashini Subramaniam, 26, were browsing around at the mall when they were approached by a lawyer.

“It is good they are taking the trouble to educate us on our rights,” Subashini said.

Viki Ramu, 21, who works in Singapore, said he often heard of cases of policemen reported to have abused detainees in lockups.

The book could help people know their rights, he added.

The Bar Council has started an online petition to urge the Government to set up an independent police complaints and misconduct commission.

Those who wish to download a copy of the Red Book can do so at www.malaysianbar.org.my (or click here).

Lawyer K. Mohan distributing the Red Book to Subashini (centre) and Kasturi at the Johor Baru City Square Shopping Complex recently.

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