A Malaysian government inquiry into the treatment of a young woman prisoner forced to perform squats in the nude - a case which sparked a diplomatic incident with China - has recommended a ban of the century-old practice, saying it violates human rights.
The practice, designed to force detainees to expel hidden objects, is demeaning and completely unacceptable, the investigating panel said in its report, according to government officials.
Police, who defended the practice, told the panel the alternative was for medical personnel to examine each arrested person.
The panel, whose report is expected to be made public later this week, found people forced to perform squats in the nude felt 'dehumanised' and suffered psychological trauma. The five-member panel, headed by a retired chief justice Dzaiddin Abdullah, conducted a week-long public inquiry last month. Doctors, police and human rights experts were asked to testify.
A video of the woman prisoner was made public in November. It triggered outrage among Chinese, since the prisoner was initially thought to be ethnic Chinese. However, she was later discovered to be ethnic Malay and a Malaysian.
The report will be handed to King Syed Sirajuddin and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi today.