The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA resorted to 13-year-old recommendations to improve the police force, including the controversial Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), after Bukit Aman failed to provide its own plans on reforming the force, sources said.

It was learnt that members of the Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) had met senior officers of the federal police headquarters two weeks ago and told them to submit their recommendations on how to improve management in the force.

The GIACC team, led by its chief, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed, impressed on the police that the reforms should be in line with the new Pakatan Harapan government’s promise of reforming government institutions.

The plans and recommendations were supposed to be presented at the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption’s meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Friday.

A source who attended the meeting told The Malaysian Insight that police had very little to offer in terms of reforming the force.

“They instead spoke more about upgrading the welfare of policemen, such as protecting their rights, increasing wages, and providing housing for personnel,” said the source.

“This did not go down well at the meeting as the members felt this was not the forum to discuss the needs of the police force but to focus on the reforms which the force planned to undertake.”

The source said the meeting then decided to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police in 2005.

“This included IPCMC, which the police had been fighting for 13 years for fear that the rights of their personnel would not be upheld,” said the source.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun had previously said that the police would not object to the formation of IPCMC and that they had sent a proposal to the new government.

Fuzi, however, added there were some concerns from the police that must first be addressed before the commission could be formed.

The formation of IPCMC was initially among the 125 suggestions in the report of the royal commission. However, it was not implemented by the Barisan Nasional government due the objections from the force.

IPCMC is seen as crucial to police reform, as it will provide the public an avenue to complain about wrongs in the force, which will be dealt with transparently by an independent body.

Former IGPs Bakri Omar and Musa Hassan felt during their tenures that IPCMC was not necessary, as the police had a department to handle complaints against its officers and personnel.

Another source told The Malaysian Insight that the police needed the government’s full attention to address many issues, including corruption and personnel welfare.

“Both issues have to be tackled simultaneously. Many Malaysians think that the force need to be revamped, but they forget that its welfare and logistics requirement also need to be looked into,” said the source.

“IPCMC is good and would surely be able to lift the image of the force.”

Dr Mahathir had previously said that IPCMC will be an independent body to holistically review complaints, following the many complaints received regarding police officers and personnels.

“It is also an effort to clear the name of the police and ensure they get proper treatment as members of the force, and to improve its image at the same time,” the prime minister had said after Friday’s meeting.

The implementation of IPCMC was also one of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto promises ahead of the 14th general election. – September 24, 2018.