KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has called for the controversial Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to be set up to deal with cases of police brutality.
This comes just days before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi tables an Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission Bill, which replaces the IPCMC, as the final piece of his reform package.
Datuk Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that an independent commission must inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of suspected car thief A Kugan while in police custody last month.
The high-profile case has become a lightning rod for protests against apparent police brutality.
“It (IPCMC) would have been the perfect body to investigate this case,” he said to reporters later, adding that he was disappointed when the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) bill had been withdrawn from Parliament.
In 2005, the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police had recommended the establishment of the IPCMC.
In 2007, the government instead tabled a bill to form a Special Complaints Commission which would have both the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Agency (now the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) as automatic members.
This bill was withdrawn amid heavy criticism and was due to be retabled early last year, but Parliament was dissolved ahead of the March 8 General Elections.
Abdullah will table a replacement bill, known by its Malay acronym Siap, at the beginning of March.
“The commission must start on this case to prevent future abuses,” the Umno lawmaker said.
Ghapur added that some form of independent inquiry must be conducted into the Kugan case as it was taking a toll on Barisan Nasional and would result in a loss of votes in future elections.
“If a dead body is found in my house, I cannot be the one to investigate it. Someone outside must do it,” he had told Dewan Rakyat, criticising internal police investigations into the affair which has yet to see any suspects being charged.
He also criticised the investigation into two deputy ministers — Senator T. Murugiah and Datuk S.K. Devamany — who were accused of breaking into the mortuary where Kugan’s body was held.
“They were only showing their sympathy to the family of the deceased. It is the police who should be investigated for any criminal involvement.
“Even if the boy was a criminal, it is not up to the police to mete out punishment, but the courts. Let us not defend the police if they are criminals,” he added.
Ghapur had initially been chosen as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment after the March 8 General Elections last year but turned down the appointment.
Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
23/02/09
This comes just days before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi tables an Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission Bill, which replaces the IPCMC, as the final piece of his reform package.
Datuk Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that an independent commission must inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of suspected car thief A Kugan while in police custody last month.
The high-profile case has become a lightning rod for protests against apparent police brutality.
“It (IPCMC) would have been the perfect body to investigate this case,” he said to reporters later, adding that he was disappointed when the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) bill had been withdrawn from Parliament.
In 2005, the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police had recommended the establishment of the IPCMC.
In 2007, the government instead tabled a bill to form a Special Complaints Commission which would have both the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Agency (now the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) as automatic members.
This bill was withdrawn amid heavy criticism and was due to be retabled early last year, but Parliament was dissolved ahead of the March 8 General Elections.
Abdullah will table a replacement bill, known by its Malay acronym Siap, at the beginning of March.
“The commission must start on this case to prevent future abuses,” the Umno lawmaker said.
Ghapur added that some form of independent inquiry must be conducted into the Kugan case as it was taking a toll on Barisan Nasional and would result in a loss of votes in future elections.
“If a dead body is found in my house, I cannot be the one to investigate it. Someone outside must do it,” he had told Dewan Rakyat, criticising internal police investigations into the affair which has yet to see any suspects being charged.
He also criticised the investigation into two deputy ministers — Senator T. Murugiah and Datuk S.K. Devamany — who were accused of breaking into the mortuary where Kugan’s body was held.
“They were only showing their sympathy to the family of the deceased. It is the police who should be investigated for any criminal involvement.
“Even if the boy was a criminal, it is not up to the police to mete out punishment, but the courts. Let us not defend the police if they are criminals,” he added.
Ghapur had initially been chosen as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment after the March 8 General Elections last year but turned down the appointment.
Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
23/02/09
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