Police laud passing of IPCC Bill

KUALA LUMPUR: The police welcome the passing of the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill by the Dewan Rakyat.

“We welcome the government’s move in setting up the IPCC in a bid to restore the people’s confidence towards the police force,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said in a statement yesterday.

He also said that the extension of the enforcement period of Subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (or Sosma) enabled them to dispense their duties more effectively.

The subsection, which expires on July 31, allows for the detention of suspects for up to 28 days without trial.

Acryl Sani said they were grateful to the government via the Home Ministry, especially its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin for tabling the Sosma motion again.

“The extension of the subsection gives us the opportunity to carry out our responsibilities more efficiently for the sake of the well-being of Keluarga Malaysia,” he said.

Acryl Sani reiterated that the police force was always committed to maintain public order and security of the country.

“We also welcome the government’s move in setting up the IPCC in a bid to restore the communities’ confidence towards the police force,” he added.

The IPCC Bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

The Bill, which had been in Parliament’s Order Paper over the past two years, was finally tabled for second reading by Hamzah.

The motion to extend the detention period of suspects under Sosma was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in the second attempt on the same day.

The motion was put for a bloc vote with a total of 111 MPs voting in support.

Eighty-eight MPs voted against it while 21 were absent.

Hamzah in his winding up speech on the debate of the Bill said it would take time to investigate bigger cases.

“For cases of gangsterism, it is difficult for us to nab the bosses if we don’t have those working for them as witnesses.

“Sometimes, it takes one to two weeks to convince them to be a witness,” he was quoted as saying.

Hamzah added that the Bill was not “cruel” and was in the interest of the country.

“It is unfair to say that those nabbed are oppressed when we know they are in the wrong,” he added.