The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is expecting police personnel to testify tomorrow in its ongoing inquiry into alleged police brutality during the aborted Nov 5 "100,000 People's Gathering".

"We intended to call 12 police personnel to our inquiry but because they are also witnesses in the court proceedings of those arrested during the Nov 5 gathering, we can only call a few," inquiry chairman Anuar Zainal Abidin told malaysiakini today.

The Nov 5 rally, which was organised by opposition party Keadilan, saw 125 supporters arrested, some of whom are expected to be charged this week.

When asked how many witnesses are expected to appear before the tribunal tomorrow, Anuar said "one or two".

"The police have sent us the names of only those that can attend the inquiry and we have thus sent them notices to appear," Anuar added.

Conspicuously absent

The three-member inquiry, which includes Sabah Civil Service Commission chairman Simon Sipaun and former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law faculty dean Mehrun Siraj, will resume this week, starting tomorrow.

The inquiry has so far heard the testimonies of 29 civilian witnesses of whom included a 17-year-old student and Keadilan leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The police, despite being invited to observe the proceedings, have been conspicuously absent since the inquiry began on Nov 29. The inquiry is the first of its kind after Suhakam was formed in April last year.

The commission comprises 13 members and is headed by former United Nations Human Rights Commission chairman and ex-deputy prime minister Musa Hitam.