MP SPEAKS In May 2006, the Royal Malaysian Police Force threatened a revolt by the force should the then Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration proceeded to implement the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) proposed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the Police.
As a result of the threat, the proposed IPCMC legislation was ditched and the substantially watered down Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) was set up.
Now, given the failure of the EAIC and with renewed calls for the revival of the IPCMC, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin has again shunned calls to form the IPCMC.
“The laws are already there. The EAIC is already there. There is no point to keep discussing the IPCMC… I feel that the laws are already there and they are stronger than the IPCMC,” Bakri said last Saturday.
The professionalism of the police force is being questioned again with the unacceptable increase in the number of deaths under police detention as well as the worrying rise in crime in the country, particularly in the Klang Valley.
There have already been nine deaths under police custody in less than six months this year alone. At the same time, various gangs armed with “parang” or machetes are terrorising open air and public eateries as well as households with increasing frequency and audacity over the past few weeks.
The above has yet to include the unprofessional handling of peaceful assemblies over the past few years where even journalists are beaten to pulp, which was condemned even by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).
As a result of the threat, the proposed IPCMC legislation was ditched and the substantially watered down Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) was set up.
Now, given the failure of the EAIC and with renewed calls for the revival of the IPCMC, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin has again shunned calls to form the IPCMC.
“The laws are already there. The EAIC is already there. There is no point to keep discussing the IPCMC… I feel that the laws are already there and they are stronger than the IPCMC,” Bakri said last Saturday.
The professionalism of the police force is being questioned again with the unacceptable increase in the number of deaths under police detention as well as the worrying rise in crime in the country, particularly in the Klang Valley. There have already been nine deaths under police custody in less than six months this year alone. At the same time, various gangs armed with “parang” or machetes are terrorising open air and public eateries as well as households with increasing frequency and audacity over the past few weeks.
The above has yet to include the unprofessional handling of peaceful assemblies over the past few years where even journalists are beaten to pulp, which was condemned even by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).
EAIC was designed to fail
These incidents themselves prove that the EAIC has failed in its objectives to improve the professionalism of our enforcement agencies.
These incidents themselves prove that the EAIC has failed in its objectives to improve the professionalism of our enforcement agencies.
This isn’t at all surprising, given that the replacement commission was designed to fail with not only watered-down powers, but also with limited funding of only RM7 million a year.
At this moment, there is only one investigator given the ridiculous task of investigating 19 enforcement agencies, with the EAIC already its third year of operations.
Worse, it has been highlighted that the sole investigator was himself involved in the controversial death of Teoh Beng Hock under Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which makes a complete mockery of the government’s sincerity and seriousness in tackling any of these pressing issues.
In 2006, the police listed down their to the IPCMC objections in a special bulletin, listing up to 10 reasons for their rejection.
The police claimed that the IPCMC:
At this moment, there is only one investigator given the ridiculous task of investigating 19 enforcement agencies, with the EAIC already its third year of operations.
Worse, it has been highlighted that the sole investigator was himself involved in the controversial death of Teoh Beng Hock under Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which makes a complete mockery of the government’s sincerity and seriousness in tackling any of these pressing issues.
In 2006, the police listed down their to the IPCMC objections in a special bulletin, listing up to 10 reasons for their rejection.
The police claimed that the IPCMC:
- Goes against national security and public order;
- That people will be the victims and the result will be a state of anarchy;
- That crime cases will be out of control;
- That the IPCMC goes against the federal constitution, natural justice and the rule of law as it discriminates police personnel from ordinary citizens; and
- That the IPCMC “soften” the police force.
What was shocking then was the threat by the police that the IPCMC “will undermine the ruling coalition’s power”.
Senior police officers were quoted as warning that “the police will vote for the opposition in the next general election due in 2009” and that the “PDRM top brass will resign en bloc, policemen will refuse to work overtime and demand for an eight-hour five-day working week”, should the IPCMC be established.
Senior police officers were quoted as warning that “the police will vote for the opposition in the next general election due in 2009” and that the “PDRM top brass will resign en bloc, policemen will refuse to work overtime and demand for an eight-hour five-day working week”, should the IPCMC be established.
Police should support setting up of IPCMC
The police should not threaten another revolt over the setting up of an IPCMC because clearly, over the past seven years, the situation on human rights abuses as well as crime in the country has not improved with any significance despite the ruling government’s acquiesce to the police.
Instead the police should support the setting up of an IPCMC because its intent is not to victimise the police but to increase the professionalism of the force as well as to improve its effectiveness in carrying out policing duties.
By supporting the IPCMC and weeding out the black sheep within the force and maintaining discipline, the winners will be the police themselves, together with the rakyat.
What is more, if the police are indeed professional and act above board as claimed, then surely there will be nothing to be fearful about the IPCMC.
We call on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to use his new “mandate” to table a new IPCMC Bill in Parliament in the coming sitting commencing on the June 24.
Such a bold move will not only be consistent with his pledge to carry out his transformation programmes, but will immediately win additional support for his regime from the people.
By supporting the IPCMC and weeding out the black sheep within the force and maintaining discipline, the winners will be the police themselves, together with the rakyat.
What is more, if the police are indeed professional and act above board as claimed, then surely there will be nothing to be fearful about the IPCMC.
We call on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to use his new “mandate” to table a new IPCMC Bill in Parliament in the coming sitting commencing on the June 24.
Such a bold move will not only be consistent with his pledge to carry out his transformation programmes, but will immediately win additional support for his regime from the people.
TONY PUA is DAP national publicity secretary and Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
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