Gerakan echoes MIC's call for IPCMC

Gerakan has joined its BN coalition partner MIC in calling for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in response to death in custody victim N Dhamendran's case.

In a press release today,  its Environment, Security and Quality of Life chairperson Cheah Soon Hai (right)  said establishing the commission "would help restore public confidence in the police force."

He said he could not fathom the police's aversion to the IPCMC when it is needed to deal with complaints made by the public against the force.

"Public confidence in the law enforcers is crucial so they will not take matters into their own hands," he said.

He urged the police to streamline their interrogation tactics and called for the revamp of lock up and interrogation rules.

"These detainees are merely suspects; they're innocent until proven guilty, so the police must respect this cardinal principle and not take it upon themselves to decide the guilt of the suspects," he said.

‘MIC, Pakatan, back IPCMC Bill'

Last week MIC spoke up for the formation of the long overdue IPCMC saying the recommendation had to be implemented "immediately".

They were responding to Minister Paul Low'sambivalencetowards the call as an immediate redress to the numerous custodial cases this year.

Pakatan Rakyat has also called for BN parliamentarians to support a bill on IPCMC at the first sitting of the new Parliament on June 24.

The opposition coalition's plan to push the IPCMC Bill despite lacking a majority in Parliament came after P Karuna Nithi's death on June 2, bringing the custodial death toll to three in two weeks.