Police want complaints commission to protect their rights, too

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 7 years ago · Published on 21 Sep 2018 7:20PM · 3 Comments

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim says police officers must have their rights protected if they are investigated by an independent panel. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, September 21, 2018.

DESPITE fighting it for more than a decade, police today welcomed the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim, however, said the rights of police officers being investigated by the commission must be upheld.

“We welcome the decision without any objection but at the same time, we will have to make sure that police officers must have their rights protected,” Noor Rashid said today.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the IPCMC will replace the “watered-down” Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), which was established by the previous Barisan Nasional administration as a compromise.

In 2004, a royal commission of inquiry was convened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to look into criticism against the force over increasing incidents of crime and custodial deaths.

The RCI’s mandate was to study and recommend measures to improve police efficiency and to make the force more respectable and formidable as an enforcement body.

In November 2005, the RCI made 125 recommendations and suggested the establishment of the IPCMC to investigate police malfeasance and take disciplinary measures against errant officers.

This, however, was objected to by police and as compromise, the government established the EAIC.

However, throughout the years, lawmakers and civil society groups have been clamouring for the IPCMC, saying that the EAIC was ineffective as custodial deaths are still taking place and cases of policemen committing crimes continue.

Earlier today, Dr Mahathir said the EAIC will be made into the IPCMC.

“The IPCMC will be an independent body to look into police complaints more holistically,” the prime minister said after chairing the fourth special cabinet meeting on anti-corruption with the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) in Putrajaya. – September 21, 2018.  

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Comments

  • This is the same insane logic the cops used to scuttle the IPCMC, when a gutless Badawi gave in. If only he had stuck to his guns (pardon the pun) the Royal Malaysia Police wouldve been an exemplary force by now. Better late than never I suppose.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • A police officer was reliably heard to comment that "corruption is in our blood". IPCMC to the rescue?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Very good decision by Tun M. At least he got the gumption and the political spine to do the right thing to keep the police in line. I have no doubt with the IPVMC in place there will be no rogue IGP like the previous one.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply