Abu Kassim: IPCMC will be acid test for future oversight bodies

INTERVIEW | More oversight bodies, such as the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), may be set up to monitor other law enforcement agencies, said Abu Kassim Mohamed.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director-general said IPCMC would serve as an acid test for Putrajaya’s renewed efforts to weed out corruption.

"The government has agreed to convert the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) into the IPCMC.

"Though we have yet to finalise it, the model is to transform the EAIC into an independent agency outside (the police force) to look into police misconduct.

"We will start with the police first, and then we will go to other places (agencies). We want to see how effective the IPCMC will be first," Abu Kassim said.

In September last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that the government has agreed to convert the EAIC into the long-mooted IPCMC.

Mahathir informed reporters about the decision after chairing a meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption in Putrajaya, saying that the IPCMC would be a more independent and holistic entity than its predecessor.

The move was welcomed by many, including deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim (photo), who said that it would enhance the integrity and capabilities of the force.

The IPCMC was among the key recommendations of a 2005 royal commission on the operation and management of the police force.

The commission, led by former chief justice Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah, had drafted a bill to set up the IPCMC, but the plan was eventually scuppered by the government.

The Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration faced protests from personnel within the force, who cited, among others, how the commission would not allow for appeals.

Eventually, the EAIC was established to oversee all enforcement agencies.

However, critics argued that the EAIC was a watered-down version of the IPCMC and ineffective in putting a stop to police abuses.

ABU KASSIM INTERVIEW

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