Malaysian police get human rights course

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 3 (UPI) -- Malaysia is sending the heads of 170 police districts for training in the basics of human rights, in an effort to correct abusive police practices.

Inspector-General of Police Bakri Omar launched the two-week course Thursday, in the latest government move to improve the police force after a Royal Commission last year recommended sweeping changes to practices that date back decades.

Senior police officers are to be the first to be educated. "Some of them have no idea what human rights is all about," the South China Morning Post quoted Bakri as saying.

In a recent incident, police arrested 10 elderly men and shaved them bald for playing mahjong, sparking widespread outrage across the country.

Following the incident, Bakri said that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and opposition lawmakers had exerted intense pressure on him to bring the police force into line.

"We don't want stupid officers any more," he said.