Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been urged to table the bill for creation of an independent police watchdog when Parliament sits on March 13, regardless of resistance from the police.

"The prime minister must stand firm and not back down on his public commitment to implement the Royal Police Commission's recommendations," said Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement today.

The commission had made 125 recommendations to improve the police force, including a key recommendation to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). The premier has agreed to the body being set up.

Lim was commenting on a report in English-language daily The Sun today, which said Abdullah had held a three-hour closed-door meeting with top police officers yesterday at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters.

The report claimed that the premier heard "the grouses and views of the men in blue, who have been under intense scrutiny in the past months".

Issues reportedly raised during the meeting included unhappiness over the proposed IPCMC, with the police said to be concerned that it could be "misused by criminals or other unscrupulous parties to victimise the police force".

Failure to support PM

Lim said the phenomenon reflects the failure of the police leadership to fully support the premier in implementing the recommendations.

He also noted there is a growing chorus of mainstream 'opinion makers' who are sympathetic to police opposition and resistance to reform.

The opposition leader had earlier criticised Education Minister and Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein and questioned whether the latter had broken ranks by supporting police opposition to the proposal.

"The feeling of grievance among the police that they are being singled out and discriminated against for far-reaching reforms should be addressed, for it would be most unfair to the police if this is the case," Lim said.

He further suggested Abdullah should present a mid-term two-year reform report on every ministry and department on progress achieved and plans for reform. This, he added, should be done in Parliament next month.