The Special Commission on the Royal Malaysian Police will this month be holding public inquiries for the second time in Sarawak to hear public views and complaints on the force.

The commissioners, led by vice-chairperson and former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar, will be in Miri on June 24, Sibu on June 25 and Kuching on June 26.

They will be available for the public, non-governmental organisations and associations to meet with them to raise complaints or make recommendations to improve the efficiency of the police force.

A spokesperson for the commission told malaysiakini that due to publicity problems, the first inquiry held several months ago in Sarawak met with a poor response.

"The inquiry this month is to give Sarawakians another chance to say what they want to say," she added.

Police effectiveness questioned

The spokesperson said common complaints from the public were corruption and lack of follow-up action after police reports were lodged.

She added the commission would also like to hear views and recommendations on how to improve policing and the overall efficiency of the police force.

"If necessary, the commissioners will call on the police chiefs in their respective districts to attend immediately to certain complaints highlighted to the commission.

"We would expect the police to be on hand when a public inquiry is conducted so that we could relate complaints to them for action to be considered and taken," she added.

Other commissioners led by commission chairperson Dzaiddin Abdullah will hold separate public inquiries in Sandakan and Tawau, Sabah.

The inquiry comes at a time when the effectiveness of the police in fighting crime is being questioned particularly with the surge in snatch thefts which has raised the ire of Malaysians.