IPCMC delayed for further improvements, says Liew

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need to further improve the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission 2019 (IPCMC) Bill, says Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the Bill needs to be enhanced to allow for other rules pertaining to disciplinary proceedings to be tweaked, in line with the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, which is currently in place and used against police officers.

He added there is also a need to classify what is deemed as minor offences.

Liew said it is important to do so, as it will make the implementation of the Bill, once passed and gazetted, easier.

The Bill's second and third readings have been postponed to the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in March.

Liew said the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) has been tasked to have further consultation with stakeholders, especially the police about the matter.

Asked if the Bill was postponed due to the lack of support from government backbenchers, Liew said that was not the case.

He added that he expects backbenchers to back any government bills.

“This bill is from the government, so government lawmakers must support, such is the concept of collective responsibility.

"If they don’t, then the respective party Chief Whips can take action, ’’ he said in a press conference at the lobby on Tuesday (Dec 3).

Parliament's Special Select Committee for Consideration of Bills Chairman Ramkarpal Singh said he was only informed of the delay to table the Bill early Tuesday (Dec 3) morning.

Ramkarpal said the delay could mean the government is still conducting consolations with relevant parties.

“I think the government still needs time to go through the report and conduct consultations with the Attorney General's Chambers, ’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition chief Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants the government to withdraw the bill completely.

"We hope that the government not only postpone, but completely withdraw from any plans to introduce IPCMC.

"As I have mentioned before, there are other instruments like the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to monitor's police discipline.

"Even without IPCMC, that does not mean that the police is not being monitored.

"The EAIC monitors 21 enforcement agencies already, so that is why we do not think there is a need for IPCMC.

"We will be waiting for the government to announce the decision to withdraw it," said the Bera MP.