LETTER | The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) is disappointed that several government backbenchers have called for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill to be withdrawn, as they described it as persecution of the police force.

Just two days ago, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said that the IPCMC Bill will be tabled in Dewan Rakyat on August 26, and it will come under the Home Ministry’s purview.

In response to this, Proham would like to again draw the government’s attention to the 2005 report by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and reiterate the details of what the Royal Commission envisaged in the setting up of an IPCMC.

The report stated that police culture is often inward-looking and closed and that mindsets are usually resistant to change. The establishment of an external oversight agency for PDRM would be a profoundly important development in the governance of this important organisation.

As Proham has repeatedly stated, the IPCMC should be an independent body that will be established pursuant to an act of Parliament. In relation to this, Proham cannot agree with the Home Minister’s proposal to put the IPCMC under the purview of Home Ministry should this body is to be established.

Doing so could jeopardise the impartiality of the body that is intended to receive and investigate complaints about PDRM including proposing measures to improve police integrity.

Simply put, as much we appreciate the good work of PDRM, the police cannot police themselves.

The setting up of the IPCMC has been prolonged, by almost 15 years, and there should not be any more delay.

Proham would like to emphasise again the urgency for the government to institute the IPCMC based on these three points: to preserve the integrity of the police institution, to restore public confidence in policing, and to ensure police accountability as a system of internal and external checks and balances.

The above is issued by Proham secretary-general Khoo Ying Hooi, Proham chair Michael Yeoh, and Proham deputy chair Prof Denison Jayasooria.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.