A special commission into the police force has recommended sweeping reforms to eliminate corruption and human rights abuses and called for a draconian security law to be amended.

The Royal Commission's 607-page report, made available to the public today, makes 125 recommendations for improvements to a police force viewed by many as brutal and riddled with graft.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced he would head a taskforce to implement the recommendations, which include a call for an independent police complaints and misconduct commission.

Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang hailed the commission as "the most significant reform measure" taken by Abdullah since he took over from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad 18 months ago.

Headed by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, the commission said the top three priorities for reform were to reduce crime, eradicate corruption and end human rights abuses.

The commission also turned its attention to a section of Malaysia's feared Internal Security Act (ISA), under which suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.

Section 73 of the act allows police to arrest people without a warrant and detain them for up to 60 days, after which the government can recommend renewable two-year detention periods.

The commission focused only on police powers under the act, saying those of the government to order long-term detentions were beyond its scope.

Prevent abuse

It said that, once arrested by police, suspects should be brought before a magistrate within 24 hours, allowed legal counsel and held no longer than 30 days.

"During detention, a suspect normally has no access to legal counsel, which is a clear breach of basic human rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution," the report said.

The constitution required that people should be told as soon as possible why they had been arrested and be allowed to engage a lawyer.

The report also said that "the detention period, where the suspect is denied freedom and is held incommunicado without right to fair trial in an open court, is too long".

The period should be reduced to "prevent suspect from being exposed to abuse", the report said.

The commission said laws which allowed for "preventive" detention contributed to human rights abuses by police, denied people the right to be charged in open court and were no longer necessary as Malaysia was "generally in a peaceful state and is stable".

Critics charge that the ISA is being used to crush political dissent. The government maintains it is an essential tool against terrorism.

Corruption high

In a surprising venture into politics, the commission called for amendments to a section of the Police Act which requires permits to be obtained before the holding of gatherings, rallies and marches.

It said opposition parties or non-governmental organisations seen as critical of the government were often denied permits or faced conditions which were impossible to fulfil.

The commission said corruption in the police was "high", with 5,726 cases recorded between 1999 and 2003 - more than any other government agency.

It noted that police were alleged to take "protection money" from brothels and illegal gambling syndicates. In some cases senior officers had allegedly amassed assets worth millions of ringgit without action being taken against them.

It said 89 percent of people who responded to the commission were "worried" or "extremely worried" about crime in their neighbourhoods.

Rights groups in Malaysia frequently highlight the deaths of suspects in police custody, and the commission said inquests should be conducted in all such cases, "ensuring the process is faster, more efficient, transparent and responsible".

Of the 80 deaths in custody between 2001 and 2004, only six were subject to inquests, the commission said.

Among other recommendations, the commission said the accountability of the police special branch should be increased and police training on women's rights should be improved.