Opposition party DAP has invited federal police chief Mohd Bakri Omar as well as Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar to speak at a forum tomorrow night on the Royal police commission's report.

Although neither has responded to date, organising committee member John Chung said the party would follow up on the invitations.

Contacted today, Chung said Mohd Bakri's office had faxed a letter of acknowledgment without stating whether he had made a decision to attend the forum.

"When I spoke to Noh Omar's private secretary, he confirmed having received the invitation. But since Noh Omar is not around, he has yet to read the letter," Chung said.

The forum, to be held at the YMCA hall in Kuala Lumpur from 8pm, will feature four speakers. They include two members of the Royal police commission - then Transparency International president Tunku Abdul Aziz and Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute director Michael Yeoh.

The other speakers are opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez and Ramdas Tikamdas, the former president of human rights group Hakam.

Encourage public discussion

DAP publicity secretary Teresa Kok said the objective of the forum is to encourage public discussion of the report and to provide a platform for exchange of views on the recommendations of the commission.

"We hope both Mohd Bakri and Noh Omar, who oversee the role and functions of the police force, will turn up," she said in a statement issued yesterday.

The report, compiled by a 16-member team headed by former Chief Justice Mohamad Dzaiddin Abdullah, was submitted to the King and the prime minister on April 29.

The commission took 18 months to compile feedback and formulate 125 recommendations to improve the operation and management of the police force, which is beset by allegations of corruption and abuse of power.