The Malaysian Bar said a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) is urgently needed to investigate Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador’s claims that there is a cartel within the police force conspiring to get rid of him.
“Such an allegation is shocking and seriously erodes public confidence in the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
“The Malaysian Bar, therefore, calls for an urgent investigation into the IGP’s assertions through the establishment of an independent RCI in order to get to the bottom of the matter.
“A transparent and independent investigation has to be instituted without delay to determine the veracity of the IGP’s worrying claims and to ensure that the integrity of the PDRM is preserved,” said the Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas in a statement today.
He said if an RCI is not established to investigate this matter, it may give rise to speculation of substantive problems within the police force or that those in power have something to hide.
“The allegation made by the IGP has the unfortunate effect of casting aspersions on all members of PDRM, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding and doing their utmost to protect life and property.
“Only an RCI will help clear the air and help restore public confidence in the many men and women in the police force,” Kalidas said.
Abdul Hamid revealed on Thursday that there is a movement consisting of young police officers within the force conspiring to get rid of him.
He had added the cartel’s ambition is to dominate the police force for their personal interest.
Kalidas said these allegations had reignited the Bar’s long-held call for an empowered, independent and external oversight body to investigate complaints against the police force, that is, the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
“We take the view that the mooted Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) does not have sufficient disciplinary authority to handle complaints against misbehaving police officers and falls far short of the kind of independent and external oversight body that this nation deserves,” he said.
The IPCMC Bill was proposed under the Pakatan Harapan administration but it was later replaced by the IPCC Bill by the Perikatan Nasional government in August last year.
Unlike the original, the IPCC does not have disciplinary powers to deal with police misconduct. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.