Groups want IPCMC Bill put on hold for additional scrutiny

Several groups have urged the government to postpone its plans to table the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission Bill next week.

Senior Police Officers Association president Sulaiman Yahaya said the bill should be put on hold pending a more detailed study, so as to ensure no disputes would arise once it is implemented.

He said the association was present at the hearing by the parliamentary special committee in charge of proposing changes to the bill, but its views were not taken into account and no changes were made.

“Issues related to the (Federal) Constitution need to be reviewed so that when this is finalised, it becomes a good bill that will benefit the people.

“Don’t rush. You can take your time […] We are serving the public, but now all our men are demoralised because they are afraid of this IPCMC.

“The bill tabled in parliament doesn’t really give justice to the police,” he told a press conference in at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.

Separately, Amnesty International’s Malaysia chapter said the tabling of the bill should not be rushed. This is because there are important changes that need to be made, and there needs to be a proper opportunity to scrutinise the bill before it is passed.

“Without substantial revision to the bill, the IPCMC will fail to ensure proper investigations into police misconduct and to hold abusive officers to account.

“Unfortunately, the minister's announcement that the bill is under embargo until the parliamentary vote next week does not allow for proper scrutiny to ensure necessary changes will be incorporated in time.

“This bill, up to now, has fallen far short of what civil society and the 2004 Royal Commission of Inquiry for Police Reform asked for,” said Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni in a statement today.

Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said the IPCMC Bill has been presented to all MPs this morning.

He said the parliamentary committee scrutinising the bill had made 24 recommendations that would be considered by the cabinet, and the bill is slated to be tabled in parliament next week.

Additional reporting by ALYAA ALHADJRI.