The Attorney-General's Chambers is in the final stage of studying the viability of creating the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He reiterated the government's commitment to improving the police force - widely seen as being riddled with corruption and brutality - after the dilly-dallying in setting up the IPCMC was criticised by the opposition and civil society groups.

"The (Royal Police Commission) was set up to improve the police force and IPCMC is just one way of (doing this). We do not necessarily have to implement all the recommendations," he told the Dewan Rakyat today during the Question session.

"It is not that we aren't firm on this matter. We are firm about setting up something which will do justice to every party and allow the police to discharge their duties."

Abdullah, who is also the internal security minister overseeing the police force, was replying to a question from Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) who wanted to know the progress of the study by the AG's Chambers.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail was asked to look into feasibility of creating the watchdog body after Abdullah gave his nod to the recommendation. The proposal, however, has been strongly opposed by the police and some Umno backbenchers.

The deadline for the setting up of the watchdog - as recommended by the royal commission - was May 31.

Replying to a supplementary question from Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) who told the government not to be influenced by the opposition's 'instigation', Abdullah said he agreed with the statement.

"If we read the report of the Royal Police Commission, we would find that (its recommendations) to improve the police force involve many other aspects, not just matters of discipline," he said.

On a related matter, Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said his ministry is confident that the police force will not act beyond its authority, following accusations of insubordination in its open opposition to the IPCMC.

"The ministry is not prepared to take any disciplinary action (against the police) in view of the fact that the police chief (Mohd Bakri Omar) and other officers have pledged to adhere to any decision made by the premier in relation to the IPCMC," he said.

Fu was replying to an adjournment speech by Lim this afternoon on police "defiance and insubordination", in relation to a special edition of an internal bulletin published by the police in opposing the IPCMC.

Ombudsman 'won't help'

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok said the government has dropped its plan to establish an ombudsman in place of the IPCMC.

This was on the basis that the mechanism is not suitable for Malaysia, although it is popular in many countries.

"We are looking into concepts similar to the ombudsman for the administrative system or to turn the public complaints bureau into an effective and credible unit," he said in answer to Shim Paw Fatt (BN-Tawau).

To a supplementary question from Wong Nai Chee (BN-Kota Melaka) on the government's reason for rejecting this proposal, the minister said the experience of neighbouring countries has shown that an ombudsman would not help solve the problems.

The government was reported as saying that it would consider creating an ombudsman as an alternative to the IPCMC proposal. Advocates of the IPCMC had rejected the idea.