UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan urged the Government to reform and modernise the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) as recommended by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police.
“The sacrifices made by our security forces are extraordinary and we should prioritise on reforms beyond basic disciplinary code.
“The proposed Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) must be balanced with the Government’s commitment to reform the police institution in terms of remuneration, career advancement, welfare and upskilling,” he said, in a Facebook post.
In 2003, the RCI chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah made over 120 recommendations to reform the police force, including the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Monitoring Commission (IPCMC).
However, the Government had been reluctant to form the IPCMC fearing backlash from the police force.
In 2019, then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tabled the IPCMC Bill for the first reading at the Parliament but fell through after the Pakatan Harapan Government collapsed in February 2020.
Last year, the Government announced it would form the IPCC instead but many quarters shot down the idea as the commission lacks the legislative bite to act against errant police officers.
Among the concerns raised were that IPCC’s findings would be referred back to the Police Force Commission for action and members of the force would be allowed to get appointed into the commission.
Get stakeholders’ views on IPCC
Touching on the IPCC, Mohamad Hasan queried whether the matter was discussed with the police and other stakeholders before being mooted.
He added that it was important for the Government to get stakeholders’ views on the matter, including the police, to make it work.
“Dzaiddin made 125 recommendations to reform the police force and their operations, with the IPCMC or IPCC just being one of them.
“There are many other recommendations made in terms of improving PDRM’s human resources, welfare and its check and balance mechanism,” the Rantau state assemblyperson concluded. – Sept 28, 2021.
Pic credit: Astro Awani
