THE postponement of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill came as no surprise as the police have of late started showing resistance to this watchdog body.

This, however, should not be the case as the IPCMC in due course will transform the police to a much more respected and trusted arm of the criminal justice system.

It will also be less pressured to appease the executive branch in our parliamentary system.

The postponing of the IPCMC bill is undoubtedly a disappointing and regressive step towards the reforms promised by New Malaysia.

It delays the opportunity for the police to become more independently accountable to the rule of law, conforming strictly to the balance and separation of powers within a potent criminal justice system.

Obviously, it will be difficult in the beginning for the police but they will gradually evolve into the nation’s bastion for the rule of law.

History has always shown their strength in adapting and facing challenges, however difficult it may be. They have always come out on top, especially when the tough really gets going! It is only a matter of choosing the right people for the job.

The police themselves must realise the need to tilt towards the judicial arm, moving away from the immense influence of the executive.

We only have to look back at the experience the nation suffered during the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fiasco to realise the urgent need to implement the IPCMC.

None of the arms within the criminal justice system could stop the suspects who were within the corridors of power. The executive simply wielded too much power.

The present Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador is testament to this fact as he was also a victim of the purge at the material time.

Rogue officers misused their enforcement powers with the intention of protecting their political masters. We must never again be subject to the wanton manner power was abused.

I have no doubt that if there was an effective and independent watchdog like the IPCMC at the material time, the 1MDB fiasco would have been averted by swift and just action with the police at the forefront of investigations.

New Malaysia is not on stable ground as the Tg Piai by-election clearly depicted and time therefore is of the essence. Reforms must be carried out quickly to make our criminal justice system completely accountable to the rule of law.

The fusion between the police and the executive at the moment, is too strong. The police are to a large extent pressured to comply with the political masters’ paradigm of thoughts.

A police force that is bound to these political shackles will become the bane of the nation when there are new politicians in the corridors of Putrajaya.

Many politicians who were in position before and now facing criminal charges know that their fate can be reversed by winning the next general election.

This is the main reason why we need significant reforms to ensure that if by some chance, rogue executives return to power, then they will not be able to influence any enforcement agency for their own personal gain.

Political landscapes can change and it is in the nation’s interest in making the police force a stronger and independent entity subservient only to the rule of law.

The IPCMC is compulsory in shifting the accountability of the police from the executive to the people.

The nation’s future hinges upon this. – December 3, 2019.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.