(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): In a press conference today, 8 out of 11 "botak" victims brought their grievances to DAP leaders including Sec Gen Lim Guan Eng, NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, Labor bureau chief N.Sivanesan and local branch chairman Yap Lum Ching.

All the 11 victims were treated inhumanly by the Kajang police on the second day of Chinese New Year. They were forced to strip naked (only left with their underpants) and shaved bald at the lock up when they were arrested and detained by the Kajang police over alleged involvement in illegal gambling at a local coffee shop. They were later charged in court and their case will be up for hearing in December this year.

DAP will be setting up a special legal panel consisting of senior DAP lawyers to help the 11 Botakgate victims to file a civil suit against the Kajang police for abuse of power and shaming and humiliating the seniors citizens.

The Kajang police action was generally viewed as unlawful, unreasonable and unjust, and certainly a serious infringement on the human and civil rights of the eleven victims. 10 out of 11 victims were senior citizens.

The Kajang police have clearly taken laws in their own hands in this matter. As this point of time, only the Kajang police seem to have adopted such uncivilized actions in the country. The OCPD of Kajang police in particular have shown his arrogance over the matter when he remarked that he will continue to do so in future arrests.

The Kajang police have also shown great disrespect to Chinese culture and traditions as shaving one bald during Chinese New Year is a great taboo ( pantang). Their luck and fortune for the entire year was seen as ruined by such uncivilized and rude action.

DAP will be sending a memorandum of protest to the Prime Minister (who also acts as the Internal Security Minister) on Monday at his Putrajaya office to urge him to put a stop to such unlawful and uncivilized practices in police lock-ups.

PM Abdullah should understand that many Malaysians are now viewing the Botakgate as retaliation to the recent public outcry and scrutiny of police actions in recent months (including the abusive treatment to the four Chinese national and so-called local naked girl video clip incidents). As the highest ranking officer in PDRM, PM Abdullah has a duty to see to it that no more Malaysians should fall victims to police abuse of powers and to restore public confidence in the police in general.