PUTRAJAYA has delayed the debate on the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The government proposes that the second and third readings for IPCMC are postponed,” said Liew Vui Keong (PH-Batu Sapi) in the Dewan Rakyat at the end of question time.

Liew, who is de facto law minister, had told reporters yesterday that the select committee for the consideration of bills chief Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) would be tabling the committee’s report today.

Following the government’s retreat, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said there was now no need for Ramkarpal to proceed.

“As the IPCMC has been delayed, there is now no necessity for Bukit Gelugor to proceed,” said Ariff.

The government is under pressure from the police and the opposition to drop the idea of setting up an IPCMC.

Human rights advocates, however, said an independent body to investigate and handle police discipline is crucial, citing numerous cases of deaths in custody, cases of enforced disappearance and the high number of complaints against police.

The version of the IPCMC Bill 2019 to be debated has 37 amendments from the previous draft as a result of stakeholder consultations by the select committee for the consideration of bills.

The bill, originally drafted by a royal commission of inquiry to improve the police force in 2005, was rejected by the previous Barisan Nasional government, which introduced a much-criticised and watered-down Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission instead.

IPCMC was mooted again after Pakatan Harapan won the general election last year, but it has been difficult obtaining full buy-in from the police force and opposition MPs.

Debate and voting on the bill today had been highly anticipated, but after more than a decade of opposition to the bill, today’s setback leaves the IPCMC nowhere closer to reality. – December 3, 2019.