Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) would be set up soon.

The IPCMC is the major plank of the Police Royal Commission's 125 recommendations to enhance the operations of the police force.

However, Abdullah did not say when the IPCMC bill, which has been drafted by the commission and is now being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers, would be sent to Parliament for debate.

The prime minister told journalists that after chairing the monthly Umno supreme council meeting this afternoon that 25 percent of the commission's recommendations have been implemented.

The rest of the recommendations will be implemented in the "short and long term".

He also said that he wants all the recommendations made in by a recent inquiry - which was conducted by some member of the Police Royal Commission - into the controversial nude-squats incident to be implemented immediately.

The IPCMC is arguably the most powerful watchdog ever proposed in Malaysia.

Unlike existing agencies, it reports not to the prime minister but directly to Parliament, which ensures its investigations are made public.

Powers of IPCMC

According to the draft bill submitted by the Police Royal Commission, the IPCMC will consist of seven members - a chairperson, two deputy chairpersons and four commissioners.

The IPCMC, which will be a permanent body, exercises wide powers to probe the wrongdoings of the police force.

It can investigate allegations of misconduct even when the offences occur outside the country or when the police officer is off-duty. Retired cops, too, are not immune to prosecution.

The commission can inspect lock-ups, raid police stations and other government offices.

The commission can also launch an investigation on its own initiative. It can even take over the investigation of a complaint from the country's police chief, the inspector-general of police.

It has the authority to intercept or listen to any form of communication.

In conducting its investigation, the commission will work, where appropriate, with the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Auditor-General, the Securities Commission, Bank Negara and police forces overseas.

The commission can hold either public or private hearings as part of its investigation. And it is empowered to issue warrants of arrest for those who have been summoned but fail to appear at its hearings.

Editor's note: Malaysiakini journalists were again barred from covering the Umno supreme council meeting today.