INTERVIEW | There have long been calls for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has promised to bring this back to the table.

"It is one of the promises we made in the manifesto. IPCMC was proposed previously but the police were against the idea.

"I think it comes with a good intention.

“It is not to punish anyone, but there are rules and ways to function," he said in an interview at his residence last Friday.

In its election manifesto, Pakatan Harapan had pledged to form the IPCMC within its first term in office, saying that “all allegations of misconduct will be investigated in a fair and comprehensive way, including allegations of death in custody.”

The oversight body was first proposed by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police in 2005 to investigate cases of malfeasance.

The royal commission had received hundreds of complaints of police abuse, including deaths in custody, physical abuse of detainees, misuse of security laws, as well as a systematic lack of accountability and transparency.

At the time, the police top brass objected heavily to the formation of the IPCMC, because the royal commission’s proposal did not contain provisions for appeal, among others.

Calls to establish the IPCMC have not abated in the thirteen years since, given that many claim such abuses continue to occur.

As Muhyiddin explained, the commission will be able to monitor issues related to police discipline and service, since there will always be cases of misunderstanding and accusations of wrongdoing.

"If they're found to be wrong (in their practices) or not, let the independent body investigate and decide.

“When other agencies have such independent body, why can't the police have the same too?

"We will bring this back to the table and present this in consultation with various stakeholders," he said.

Last month, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun (photo) said the police were not against the establishment of the IPCMC, but insisted that they would be firm in protecting their own constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

The Malaysian Bar also reminded the Harapan government to fulfil its manifesto pledge and set up the commission without further delay.

In July, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in a written parliamentary reply that Putrajaya is still studying the need for such a commission.

This is because two existing agencies – the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) and the police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) – are already handling complaints against the police.

This interview was jointly conducted by Haris Mohd, Al-Abror Mohd Yusuf, Norman Goh, and Mauricia Grace.

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