THE arrest and charge against a student activist show the urgent need to form an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to protect citizens from police abuse of power, said a DAP lawmaker today.

Ngeh Koo Ham, the Beruas MP, urged the police to drop the case against Wong Yan Ke, who was charged yesterday with disobeying an order from the police to stop recording them during a raid at a fellow student activist’s home.

The former Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president was recording the raid on Facebook live on November 7.

“Recording live on Facebook of an event is not an offence under any law in Malaysia,” said Ngeh, who also called for disciplinary action against the police officer who denied Wong’s right to record the raid.

“A citizen has the right to private defence against any offence that he fears may be committed by a police officer. The order by a police officer requiring Wong to cease recording is an abuse of power.”

Ngeh said the record is essential evidence in the event a crime is committed, adding that the officer’s action against Wong, which culminated in charges, shows the police’s arrogance, vindictive spirit and abuse of power.

“The fact that the Police Force Commission, the highest body in the police force allowed Wong to be charged in court shows that we cannot trust the police to self-regulate,” Ngeh said.

He also branded Perikatan Nasional’s proposed Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) 2020 bill to replace an earlier proposal to form an IPCMC as “totally unacceptable”.

“IPCC is a toothless tiger as it refers all police disciplinary matters back to the police force. IPCC is a watered-down version of the IPCMC.”

Wong was detained overnight in police custody for allegedly obstructing a group of police officers by recording them conducting a raid at the home of current Umany president, Yap Wen Qing. 

This was following Umany’s statement questioning the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s influence over national issues, which culminated in police investigations under the Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act.

The student group had since retracted the statement. – November 14, 2020.