Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low today rapped DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua for suggesting that he equated the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

"This was not my meaning at all," Low said in a statement.

He urged Pua to refer to his June 9 statement , after the Petaling Jaya MP concluded Low as saying that "the only difference between the two (agencies) was merely in their names".

NONE Pua ( left ) said in a statement earlier today: "It is deeply disappointing that since appointed the 'transparency minister', Paul Low has now reversed his earlier position to argue that the special complaints commission in the form of the EAIC is now sufficient to regulate the enforcement authorities, particularly the police force."

Low said he had said that "IPCMC" and "EAIC" were only names, but the key was to "arrive at an independent agency that has the resources, clout and scope of influence to do the job effectively", since the weaknesses of the EAIC had been identified.

"Clearly, even a teenager would be able to conclude that my intention was never to equate the EAIC in its current form to that of the IPCMC proposed by the royal commission of inquiry or RCI (on improving the police force) in 2005," Low said.

He added that even Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and members of the cabinet acknowledged the weaknesses of the EAIC, and were backing a study and consultation for a detailed proposal to improve the commission, including possibly adopting some of the RCI's earlier proposals.

'Be more constructive'

"Again, I state uncategorically that I am all for a commission that can do the job effectively as compared to the limitations of the current EAIC.

"In fact, we are pushing for one that will not only be effective, but also empowered to investigate other enforcement agencies as well - where the needs are also real and pressing.

"Whether the name remains ‘EAIC' at the end of the day, (or) 'EAICC', 'PEAIC', etc... does it really matter?" Low asked.

He appealed to the people to be more supportive and constructive so that changes could be implemented.

"In closing, I would like to appeal again to all parties, if you could lend me and my team a helping hand, or even just (be) more constructive (with) well-thought-out suggestions, it would make the job we are trying to do for you a lot easier," he said.

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