Muhyiddin: Govt firm on forming IPCMC, but will allay police concerns

PETALING JAYA: The government will not budge from forming the proposed Independent Police Comp­laints and Misconduct Com­mission (IPCMC) as agreed, but will allay the concerns of the police personnel before going ahead, says Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We have accepted the fact that there should be an IPCMC, which was agreed to by the government after the formation of the Royal Commission (in 2005).

“We need some time to engage with the various levels of police personnel in the Royal Malaysian Police Force, as there are still issues which are not very clear.

“They (PDRM) assume that with an IPCMC, the police will become the target, that police are the ones who have done so much wrong and that such a body (IPCMC) will punish them,” said Muhyiddin.

He said this would not be the case with IPCMC, but the government would hear the police force’s views before forming the IPCMC.

“I have asked for the cooperation of National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed to have a session with the police and organisations representing the police to explain the arising issues which they are not happy about.

“Once we are done with that (session), we will take it to the ministers (in the Cabinet) and then the issues of enacting laws may have to be done only after that,” said Muhyid­din.

He was speaking to the media during an interview in conjunction with the first anniversary of Pakatan Harapan as the Federal Government.

In Putrajaya, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was prepared to meet the police force to hear their views on the IPCMC.

The Prime Minister said he was aware that there were differing views on the issue.

“I am willing to meet them to hear their views,” he said after launching the BOCE Malaysia/Asean Digital e-commerce platform.

Dr Mahathir also said the government would listen to public opinion before deciding on the IPCMC.

“There are people who are for it and there are people against it.

“We will study public opinion before making a decision,” he said.