THE long-delayed Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) bill will be tabled for the second reading in the current Dewan Rakyat meeting, Deputy Home Minister Jonathan Yasin said today.

“The IPCC bill was tabled for the first reading on August 26, 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat. However, the second reading, which was scheduled for August 27, 2020, was postponed,” he said during the question-and-answer time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“The bill will be tabled within this meeting and it is listed at number 67 of the House’s order of business,” the Ranau MP added.

He was responding to a question by Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai-PH) on the status of the bill.

Salahuddin then sought the government’s assurance that the bill will be tabled within the current session following revelations by top cops of misconduct that has taken place within the force.

Jonathan assured that there are no changes to the plan to table the bill in the current meeting.

The IPCC bill replaces the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) oversight bill mooted by the Pakatan Harapan government.

The IPCMC was recommended in 2005 by a royal commission of inquiry to look into police misconduct. It was formed in 2004 following a spate of custodial deaths and abuse in police detention.

However, it was deferred for review by a parliamentary select committee (PSC). The Perikatan Nasional government then came up with the IPCC, which critics said is a watered down version of the previous bill. – December 8, 2021.