PUTRAJAYA must present drafts of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill to civil society groups before it is tabled in Parliament, the Malaysian Bar said today.

Co-chair of the Bar’s taskforce on IPCMC M. Ramachelvam said engagement on the details of the bill will be important, even if groups are supportive of the oversight body.

“We hope the IPCMC will become a reality soon. This morning we had discussions with various stakeholders such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers, civil society groups, Amnesty International and representatives from a group of retired police officers.

“We understand that the bill is being finalised by the government. Our call for the government is that before the bill is tabled, let the relevant stakeholders discuss it,” Ramachelvan told reporters after a roundtable discussion on the IPCMC organised by the Bar.

He said that although several concerns were raised during the discussion, all present were supported the establishment of a police oversight body.

The majority of police officers, however, are not in favour of the IPCMC, said another member of the Bar task force, Sivaraj Retinasekharan.

This was highlighted during the roundtable by the retired police officers association.

“The retired police force association said they still don’t have the support of the majority of the police officers in the force, although the inspector-general of police has agreed to it.

“We agreed to correct the misconception among police officers and we want to address their concerns.

“The new IPCMC draft will look at the most vile and terrible misconduct,” Sivaraj said.

Task force member and activist Ivy Josiah said police concerns about their welfare and resources must be addressed.

She said one of the misconceptions of the IPCMC is that it will take away the welfare of the police personnel.

“We expect the IPCMC to look at police welfare and resources. Do they have enough investigating tools? As well as the condition of vehicles and barracks, to name a few,” she said.

Bar vice-president Roger Chan said the IPCPC will improve standards in the police force and give the public confidence.

“IPCMC will restore public confidence because there have been many allegations of abuse of power, police brutality, corruption and death in custody.

“For example, deaths in custody, we know people die but we must know how they died. Giving excuses like they fell is unacceptable,” Chan said.

The IPCMC was first proposed by a royal commission of inquiry in 2005 to improve the police force, following a spate of deaths in custody.

In 2006, the police force under then IGP Mohd Bakri Omar launched a campaign to reject the IPCMC.

Abdul Hamid Bador, the new IGP, is the first top cop who agreed on its formation.

He has been visiting several police stations around the country to hear officers’ views on the police oversight body. – May 30, 2019.