Bill to pave way for independent policing oversight authority
KUCHING: A bill to enable the setting up of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) will be tabled during the next parliamentary sitting, which starts on Monday (Oct 7).
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said yesterday that the bill would seek to bring about major reform in the police force.
“This proposal to set up IPCMC was made back in 2004 by a Royal Commission that was formed to study how to improve our police force in terms of standards and welfare.
“The major proposition was to set up an IPCMC. However, the past administration did not have the political will to form this commission. Only after PH (Pakatan Harapan) formed the government, then this bill (will be tabled) to set up IPCMC and such a commission be formed,” he told a press conference.
Chong said the IPCMC would be independent of the police force and complaints against any abuse of power involving the police could be channelled to it.
At present, he said the only way to complain about any police misconduct would be to lodge a police report.
“Hence, it is important for us to set up this commission to make our police force more professional and improve the standard of enforcement.
“The IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador) is fully supportive of this initiative, which is set to improve the accountability and professionalism of the police, and as a whole improve the standard of our police,” said Chong.
According to him, the bill will be tabled by a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and the proposed IPCMC will be independent of the Home Affairs Ministry.