PARLIAMENT | The government is expected to table a new bill to set-up the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in the first Dewan Rakyat session next year.

De facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said the government is currently determining the IPCMC's final structure, following an announcement by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in September on the formation of the police oversight body.

"Taking a holistic approach to the matter, the IPCMC Bill is expected to be tabled in the next Parliament session," he said during Question Time this morning.

The Batu Sapi MP was responding to Maria Chin Abdullah (Harapan-Petaling Jaya) who inquired about the timeline to set up the IPCMC, and the steps taken to ensure it has more power than the current advisory role played by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

Liew also noted that there has been a reported request from inspector-general of police Fuzi Harun, for protection of the police's rights under Article 140 of the Federal Constitution, related to the setting-up and jurisdiction of a Police Commission.

"I think the IGP's views were related to the police's rights under the Federal Constitution," said Liew in response to Maria's supplementary question on Fuzi's reported statement and how it would affect implementation of the IPCMC.

Among others, Liew said police currently reserves the right on whether to take disciplinary actions against its personnel, in the wake of any complaints or allegations made.

At the time, Fuzi said while the Royal Malaysia Police is not against the setting up of the IPCMC, it would remain firm in protecting its rights as enshrined in the constitution.

To a question from Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) on the proposed structure of the IPCMC, Liew said the matter is still under study and would be revealed once the Bill has been tabled.

Repeated calls for the government to set-up a dedicated police oversight body has been made over the years, particularly in response to death in custody cases.