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More than 10 years ago, I saw a policeman in Beijing kicked an arrested suspect. I was then thinking that the suspect's human rights should be respected and the incident showed that the Chinese law enforcement authorities needed to learn how to respect human rights.

Unexpectedly, today's law enforcement authorities in Malaysia should as well learn how to respect human rights. The High Court declared in a landmark ruling that interrogation sessions of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) could only be conducted during office hours, requiring the commission to respect basic human rights, particular witnesses who are willing to cooperate.

If the commission respected human rights and did not question witness, DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock overnight, Teoh's death might be avoided. MACC should have learn a lesson from Teoh's case. However, what we can see is, the commission is piqued at the court's decision and it is trying to shirk its responsibility to eradicate corruption.

According to the latest instruction issued by the commission on 23 Nov, all its offices nationwide must stop recording statements from witnesses after office hours. It also urged people who want to lodge reports with the commission or who wish to give statements to go to the MACC office in the early morning or afternoon to avoid any inconvenience.

The court prohibits the commission to question witnesses after office hours instead of asking the commission to stop working or even not to allow the public to lodge reports after 5.30pm. The Report Centre of Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Hong Kong provides 24-hour service. But the MACC has deliberately distorted the court's decision and does not allow the public to lodge reports after office hour. It seems like they are not encouraging the public to report corruption.

By this, the officials will be unable to clear the accumulated cases, particularly the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal and the V.K. Lingam video clip case.

The Prime Minister's Department must intervene in such a piqued and over-corrected reaction. Otherwise, it may trigger a greater anger from the public and the MACC's reputation will be further deteriorated.

The MACC must respect human rights and the police must be forced to uphold human rights. In particular, more and more suspects have died in police lockup and shot dead by the police.

Respecting human rights will not hinder the police's efficiency and detection rate. Instead, it can enhance the police's credibility and prestige.

The above court decision should also be applied to the police force. The decision is not requiring the police to stop working at sharp 5pm, but it requires the police to ensure the safety of witnesses.

Based on the court's decision, the government should refer to the law of some developed countries and draw up a clearer set of guidelines to standardise the interrogation procedure of law enforcement agencies and thereby enhance their professional levels.

If the image of law enforcement agencies remains low, I believe that many young people are reluctant to join them. MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said that: “Non-Bumiputras will rather sell ice-cream or pirated DVDs in order to get a better income.” But it is not the reason why non-Bumiputras refuse to join MACC and the police force. MACC should carry out a self-reflection to find out the answer. (By LIM SUE GOAN/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)

( The opinions expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect those of MySinchew )

MySinchew 2009.11.27