It is quite obvious that the present regime in charge of this nation is not as enthusiastic as before regarding the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as recommended by the Royal Police Commission it had set up to look in alleged abuses and corruption in the police force.

The aim then was to weed out and punish those few rotten apples to be found among the many boys and girls dressed in shiny blue uniforms. Whether the few rotten apples have in reality turned in many rotten and rotting ones, one is uncertain. But what is certain is that the one who has promised to see all the commission's 125 recommendations implemented somehow does not appear to be so interested as of late.

The prime minister's bright-eyed boy, the one who had to shout a word more than 40 times in Parliament just in case he was not heard, now says the government is considering an alternative to the IPCMC. This independent body or ombudsman is to address and investigate complaints against all parties, including ministers says this bright-eyed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz.

As usual the attorney-general, who is not answerable to Parliament, is busy studying the matter as it involves various aspects of the law. Earlier on, the PM said that the same AG was busily studying the setting up of the IPCMC and that it would be established once the AG is through with it. In the meantime, what are we supposed to do? Wait and wait, and wait again?

Of late, the PM appears to be having a 'makeover'. He looks like he is trying to shed his 'nice guy' image but still be able to shed a tear or two along the way. He appears to be a little bit less patient with his beloved rakyat. Notice how he wanted public demos against the fuel price hike to stop? And of late, he wants the rakyat not to complain about his 9MP. Is the iron fist going to emerge soon?

To some like me, it is not possible to reform the police if those in charge of the police are not changed or reformed first. Another writer is of the view that it is not just the case of a few rotten apples in the PDRM but rather that the problem of the PDRM having 'its roots in the apple tree itself and it has not grown properly with changing times'.

Instead of being taken for another prolonged ride while the AG is busily studying the IPCMC and the ombudsman, civil society should be pushing for the speedy setting up of the IPCMC, an independent body which has already been conceived by the Royal Police Commission and is just awaiting delivery and installation. Why all the delaying tactics by now suggesting the establishment of the ombudsman?