Activist march to Parliament to demand for IPCMC

A group of activist today marched to Parliament to remind the government of four high profile cases of alleged police misconduct in a bid to push for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

The four incidents are the assault which left a black eye on Anwar Ibrahim by then inspector-general of police Rahim Noor in 1998, the murder of murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006 and the alleged abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat in 2017 and 2016 respectively, which the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) claim was a case of "enforced disappearance" committed by police personnel.

PSM central committee member S Arutchelvan cited these four high profile cases as examples to back yet another call - that rose during the era of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - for the government to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

"Going back to even the black eye (incident) involving Anwar . Anwar was punched by the IGP.

"How can you investigate the IGP? Which policeman dares to investigate the IGP?

"Similarly, on how Altantuya was killed by UTK personnel," Arutchelvan said during a speech outside Parliament after a 15-minute march from the nearby Padang Merbok.

"Now, Suhakam has made claimed that the police Special Branch is involved in the kidnappings (of Koh and Amri)… so, clearly we need an independent commission."

Arutchelvan (photo), who cited concerns that the police themselves had recently submitted a memorandum against setting up of the IPCMC, also claimed there would be an obvious resistance to such a move to police the police.

"It should be yesterday," he quipped when asked about the group's expected deadline for the government to set up the IPCMC.

Some 50 activists calling for the setting up of IPCMC and family members of death-in-custody victims arrived outside Parliament around 11.30am this morning and were met by Pakatan Harapan MPs who accompanied 10 representatives to formally submit a petition to the government.

Earlier, the group was facilitated by traffic police on duty, and several police officers at the site reassured the organisers there would be no resistance to their rally.

Lawyer G Visvanathan, who led the representatives to submit their memorandum, welcomed the solidarity shown by the Harapan MPs who represented various parliamentary caucuses and select committees.

"We hope the promises that the Harapan government has given, prior to the general election, for the formation of the IPCMC will be upheld, will be kept, and the IPCMC will be a reality in this country," said Visvanathan (photo), who spoke on behalf of the Gabungan Tuntut IPCMC, which is backed by about 50 NGOs.

"For so long, police have been left to their own devices.

"They have been doing all their acts with impunity and disregarded proper procedures," he claimed.

"So, it is time. It is way past the time for the formation of the IPCMC. We are very glad we have so many MPs who are with us in solidarity for this purpose."

The memorandum was received by five MPs led by Nibong Tebal MP Mansoor Othman, who is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Defence and Home Affairs.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah told reporters outside Parliament that she would raise their demands with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who is chairperson of the caucus on reforms and governance committee.

With less than a week left for this current session of Parliament, Maria conceded that the matter would most likely be addressed only in the next sitting, which will begin on July 1.

"The Pakatan Harapan government will fulfil the promise to set up the IPCMC.

"I also personally promise to continue campaigning until we get the IPCMC," Maria said.

Among others, the group's memorandum highlighted that there were 257 death-in-custody cases between 2002 and 2016, with more likely having gone unreported. - Mkini