Amnesty International Malaysia welcomes the move by the government to set up an ombudsman to look into public complaints against the authorities that will also enhance police accountability.

There is no single model for systems of accountability. Different types of structures are essential to ensure that police powers are not abused and to ensure an accountable and professional police service.

However, taking into account the range of police abuses highlighted by the Royal Police Commission, as well as the huge amount of work this new ombudsman will have to undertake, we believe we still need a specific ombudsman overseeing police accountability like the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

This external complaints mechanism will have the necessary powers, resources and specialised skills to deal specifically with complaints involving the police. Therefore the formation of the new ombudsman body should not preclude the IPCMC.

The writer is executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia.