Section 4 of the 1999 Human Rights Commission Act clearly empowers the commission to visit any detention centre and lock-up where torture is alleged to have happened, or suspected to happen.

The Act was passed by Parliament and enacted into law in the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat. It is therefore the will of the people and nation of Malaysia.

By refusing the commission visits to those who are detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the police have gone against the law and the will of the people.

What is Suhakam's next step? Lodge a police report against the police? Call in the army and military police to enforce the parliamentary law against the police? Ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malay sultans to dismiss the chief executive who controls the police?

Not only Suhakam's image and credibility is at stake, but democracy and the rule of civilised law, too.