“I unequivocally oppose this appointment of a brutal assaulter of an innocent man as he lay there blindfolded and handcuffed – left without medical attention for days.

“This being then lied to the whole world as to the victim’s whereabouts and well-being. Shame on those who executed this travesty,” she said in a Twitter post.

Rahim, 75, replaces Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim, who was appointed by the previous Barisan Nasional government to facilitate the peace talks between Bangkok and Muslim rebels in southern Thailand.

He was the inspector-general of police in 1998 when Nurul Izzah’s father and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was arrested and assaulted in custody by Rahim himself.

Days after his arrest on Sept 20, 1998, Anwar shocked Malaysians when he appeared in court sporting a black eye despite earlier assurances from Rahim that the former deputy prime minister was “safe and sound” under police custody.

During his trial, Rahim told the court that he was provoked by Anwar. However, he was found guilty and sentenced to two months in jail.

In 2005, Rahim apologised to Anwar and his family for his behaviour.