The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will proceed with its public inquiry into an incident dubbed 'Bloody Sunday' since the police have not responded on the status of their investigations.

Commissioner KC Vohrah said three letters had been written to Criminal Investigation Department head Aman Fauzi Sahari, on Aug 8 and 21 respectively, and again yesterday.

"We have not received a written reply," he told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said the inquiry dates have been fixed for Oct 5-6, 11-13 and 16-18, with daily proceedings to be held between 9am and 4.30pm.

Vohrah, who will head the four-member inquiry panel, said only Suhakam would be involved in conducting the inquiry. The other commissioners involved are Choo Siew Kioh, Michael Yeoh and Zaitoon Othman.

He also said the secretariat has begun recording preliminary statements from witnesses to investigate the May 28 incident - a protest against hikes in fuel and electricity price, which was dispersed with force by police.

37 witnesses interviewed

The Federal Reserve Unit has provided the secretariat with a list of names of those involved in the demonstration held in front of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

"Up to now, the secretariat has interviewed 37 witnesses. Subpoenas will, in due course, be issued to relevant witnesses, including members of public, the press and the police to ask them to give their statements," he noted.

The secretariat is also in possession of video clips and photos taken during the incident, in which at least two people sustained injuries and 20 were arrested.

"We urge witnesses who were seriously injured to come to the public inquiry and give their statements ... and those who have video clips and photos, we urge them to come for the inquiry also," he said.

Those injured should bring copies of their medical reports and photos to back their claims, he added.

This will be Suhakam's fifth public inquiry since it was established in April 2000.

Previous public inquiries were into the Kesas Highway incident (2001); conditions faced by Internal Security Act detainees (2002); alleged mistreatment of native villagers in Sabah by the police (2004); and the death of S Hendry while in police custody (2006).