The Malaysian Bar today urged the government to fulfil its pledge and establish the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) without further delay.

Its president George Varughese said the setting up of IPMC was promised by the ruling government in its election manifesto, that it would be established in the first term of its administration.

He said Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yasin, on his first day in office in May this year, also stated that the government would establish the institution.

“The establishment of the IPCMC was one of the 125 recommendations made by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation Management of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in it's report published in May 2005.

“Although 13 years have passed since the IPCMC was first mooted, it remains relevant,” he said in a statement today.

The IPCMC is a police oversight body first proposed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry to improve the police force in 2005.

The body is to function as an independent and external oversight organisation's to investigate complaints about PDRM personnel.

George said the inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun had also recently stated that the PDRM had no objections to the formation of the IPCMC and had submitted a proposal to government for consideration.

“His receptiveness to external oversight of the PDRM is a significant and crucial change from the position that had been taken by his predecessors, and must be lauded.

“The Malaysian Bar calls upon PDRM officers to be courageous and extend their fullest support and cooperation to the government on the establishment of IPCMC, to prevent PDRM's good name from being continually tarnished by the wrongdoers in their midst,” he added.

- Bernama