The police's missing firearms prove that there is a need for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), says Suaram.

"Independent investigations will deter misuse of power by cops themselves (than) if it is made under the disciplinary body of police," the human rights group said in a statement today.

azlan It was responding to the Auditor-General's Report 2012, which says the police had lost 309 items between 2010 and 2012, including firearms, handcuffs, and police cars.

Suaram also noted that auditor-general reported delays in the discovery of the loss, saying, "If the police takes its own sweet time to report and follow up on its own items, what chance does the general public have when it comes to day to day reports to the police?"

It also slammed the police for pressing for preventive laws while there are still inefficiencies within the force.

Wild guesses

Meanwhile, NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) criticised the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar remark that the missing firearms may have fallen into the sea .

NONE Its propaganda chief Edy Noor Reduan ( right ) said Khalid's explanations should be backed by figures such as the number of guns that have been lost to the waves instead of wild guesses.

"How is he supposed to know that the missing firearms have not ended in the hands of criminals whereas there were previous reports of firearms being stolen from police personnel while they slept in their patrol cars.

"Khalid's answer that the firearms may have fallen into the sea and could not be recovered is merely a random guess," he said.

Khalid had based his remarks on ballistics tests, which he said did not find any link between the firearms used by criminals and the missing weapons.