Several non-governmental organisations are posing questions on the structural set-up and processes of the Royal Commission to review the country's police force as proposed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday.

Though they welcomed the proposal, the NGOs have insisted that the commission's terms of reference, especially with regards to scope, appointment, and powers needed to be clearly defined.

"Of supreme importance is the outcome and efficacy of the agency's recommendations," they said.

Coordinator for human rights group Suaram, S Arutchelvan said among the first answers that the government must provide is the scope of the commission's functions and responsibilities.

"What is the commission's scope? This has to be clearly spelt out. What exactly are they going to look at?" he asked.

Encroaching on others

Police brutality, inefficiency, and corruption were among the issues highlighted by the prime minister to be targeted by the commission, but this raises questions as to how thinly the body would have to spread its resources to tackle such problems, Arutchelvan told malaysiakini when contacted today.

In fact, the scope of the commission may have to be "broken down" and compartmentalised in order to tackle the issues properly and effectively, he said.

That, however he added, raises the spectre of an agency so large as to render itself unwieldy and that encroaches upon the responsibilities of other bodies, such as the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Royal Police Commission, which already deals with discipline within the police force.

Arutchelvan also noted that Abdullah in his Tuesday speech had mentioned the need to improve the police force 'in totality' as opposed to the 'ad hoc changes and improvements'.

Is the premier referring to changes concerning current police conduct and procedures, or is he suggesting that the Police Act 1967 be reviewed to allow for such a 'overhaul', asked Arutchelvan.

"Are we talking about reviewing the Police Act? Or are we (merely) reviewing how the police force is conducting itself? The scope (as mentioned by Abdullah) is very wide, (and) too vague," he said.

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) secretary-general Elizabeth Wong ventured further by calling for a revision of all laws pertaining to national security and police enforcement, not just the Police Act.

Crucial standards

Furthermore, as people are concerned not just with specifics of the commission's structures and processes but with the ultimate efficacy of the commission, Elizabeth emphasised the need for a 'terms of reference' that genuinely protected and promoted the interests and welfare of the people.

Along those lines, the appointments to the commission, its powers, and the outcome of its recommendations to the government would be among the crucial standards by which to measure the efficacy of the body, she said.

Sharing her sentiments was DAP national vice-chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw who said that the commission's terms of reference should include appointing credible members who were "truly non-partisan".

Furthermore, the report on the proposed royal commission should also be submitted to Parliament as soon as possible so that its terms of reference could be debated, Tan said in a statement..

Others urged the government to recognise the necessity of civil societies' participation and involvement in the commission, such as human rights groups, educators and others.

Chairperson of Police Watch and Human Rights Committee RN Rajah said this was to ensure the commission's accountability, independence, transparency, and the people's right to information.

"The mass media also has an important role in informing the public about police abuses, influencing public opinion and keeping such controversies alive," he said in a statement.