THE Investigation and Complaints Management System (SPEACS) developed by the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) is expected to be launched next month to replace the existing complaints system which is more conventional, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the new system will make it easier for the public to submit complaints, including displaying real-time updates on the status of the complaint, compared to the previous method of emailing, physically attending and sending letters.
“When this system is operational, we will be able to follow up, for example if we want to produce an annual report with details, statistics on complaints received, resolved and those that are still pending.
“We can also provide real-time updates, meaning that when this system is developed later, there will automatically be a dashboard to track the status of complaints. We will also use this to hold media engagement more frequently.
“This is the only way we can increase public trust in this commission from the moment it starts operating,” he told Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on the achievements of IPCC since its establishment until the end of 2024 as well as the functions of IPCC and Police, Friends and Collaborators (IPFC).
Saifuddin Nasution also said that since July 1, 2023, IPCC has opened eight investigation papers, four of which have been successfully resolved.
“The IPCC Act states that there are complaints that the IPCC can investigate and can recommend punishment. There are also complaints that the IPCC receives but they have to be channeled to the MACC because there are elements of corruption. If it involves serious crimes, it needs to be channeled to the police because the police have a CID (Criminal Investigation Department),” he added.
He also added that he has resolved the backlog of police disciplinary cases by the police’s integrity and standards compliance department (JIPS).
He said that when he started his tenure as the Home Minister, there were cases pending for six to seven years without resolution, and now they are all resolved.
“During that time, the police officers who were subjected to disciplinary cases could not get promotions or attend training; that was already a punishment for six to seven years,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said the backlog was due to a shortage of legal officers to review the cases.
After more officers were hired, the cases were able to be resolved more quickly, he said in response to a supplementary question from Dr Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN - Jerlun) who asked how the government ensures that probes into police misconduct was carried out efficiently.
The minister also said that the current police disciplinary system under the Inspector-General of Police Standing Orders is sufficient to prevent delays in making decisions on disciplinary cases.
