29 May 2007
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A restaurant operator has sued Malaysia's volunteer security force or RELA for alleged abuse of power, a lawyer said Tuesday of the latest in a series of criticisms of the corps.
Chen Yau Choy claims that members of RELA, demanded bribes in exchange for the release of suspected Indonesian illegal immigrants who were taken into custody after being found working at Chen's suburban Kuala Lumpur food court.
Chen's lawyer Haresh Mahadevan said the migrants, detained in February 2006, had valid travel and working permits.
The lawyer said Chen claims that RELA personnel also wrongfully detained him in police lockup for 11 hours.
He said Chen is seeking unspecified damages from RELA and the government for "wrongful detention and the loss of reputation."
The suit was only filed last week because Chen's lawyers have been gathering documents to back their case.
RELA Director General Zaidon Asmuni did not immediately answer calls to his mobile phone seeking comment.
The law allows RELA to make arrests or enter and search any premises without a warrant.
Earlier this month, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch urged Malaysia's government to disband the corps, following local activists' repeated claims that its members use unnecessary force against suspected illegal immigrants.
Government authorities and RELA officials have rejected the criticism, saying the force is needed to catch illegal immigrants, and the actions of a few errant members should not taint the entire corps.
Malaysia, which relies heavily on foreign laborers for menial work, regularly deports illegal immigrants, who are widely blamed for crime and social problems.
Activists have estimated Malaysia has at least 150,000 refugees and asylum seekers. (**)
