Draft Bill for IPCMC in final stages

THE Bill for the setting up of the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Com­mission (IPCMC) is expected to be given the green light this week despite reservations from police groups.

“The government is finalising the draft Bill for the IPCMC, which is expected to be tabled during the current Parliament meeting,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong in a written reply yesterday.

“Approval for the draft Bill is expected to be given by the Cabinet in its meeting later this week,” said Liew, who is in charge of law.

The Cabinet will meet on Friday as the Parliament is currently meeting.

Liew was responding to a question by Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique (BN-Kota Tinggi), who had asked when the IPCMC Bill would be tabled in Parliament after it was deferred from the meeting in March.

Various police groups and former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had voiced their objections to the IPCMC taking over the role of handling disciplinary problems in the force.

However, Bukit Aman later gave its thumbs up to the IPCMC following discussions between the police top brass, led by Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador, and the National Gover­nance, Integrity and Anti-Corrup­tion Centre (GIACC).

To a question by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Penge­rang), Liew said the government had consulted the relevant stakeholders, including the police, when drafting the Bill.

The IPCMC, he said, would function differently from the Enfor­cement Agency Integrity Com­mission (EAIC).

The EAIC, which was set up under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009, came into force in 2011 with its main function of receiving public complaints of misconduct against enforcement officers or law enforcement agencies in general.

“The IPCMC will give specific attention to issues of wrongdoings and the integrity of police personnel and officers.

“It will work closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commis­sion (MACC) to tackle corruption and abuse of power,” Liew added.

Last September, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced that the IPCMC would replace the EAIC.

The IPCMC is an oversight body proposed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2005 to improve the police force following a spate of deaths in custody.