Despite the recent spat of high-profile cases of alleged police abuse and custodial deaths, the government still has no plans of forming an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

hishamuddin hussein In fact, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein ( left ) said that even the formation of the IPCMC will not be the be-all and end-all for police abuse cases.

"The IPCMC will not resolve all these police abuse problems. Every case has to go through its course. There have already been some high-profile cases where our own officers are brought to court," he said.

However, he said that what is more important is the political will to transform the police force, which he says he has.

"It is not about the institution itself. It's about the political will and I've said before that we will not tolerate police abuse of power or any authorities, and I've proved by word by taking action against my own officers like what happened in the Immigration Department.

"It's only good that it does not affect staff morale," he said in a press conference after chairing his post-cabinet meeting in his ministry in Putrajaya.

While several people have been assaulted by the police like  the recent cases of framemaker Chia Buang Hing and pregnant store owner Chow Soo Meng, there were also several others who died in police custody.

No permit for Hindraf

Meanwhile, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf)'s planned march will still not get a police permit, even if they were to ask for it.

"They are an illegal and banned movement. They don't have locus standi (legal standing) in asking for a permit," said Hishammuddin.

"They never even applied for a permit (for an earlier convoy). They just went ahead and did it. And now that the police have taken action, they want to appeal.

"I believe that the police were very professional in their approach. Those detained have also been released on bail.

"If they were to (continue with their rally), they are doing so at their own risk," he said.

Over the weekend, the police launched a major crackdown on Hindraf convoys organised to protest the controversial novel Interlok throughout the country, which saw 59 arrested.

Despite that, the movement leaders have vowed to press on and come back bigger with a rally planned for Feb 27, to protest against the novel, as well as BN and Umno's 'institutionalised racism'.