Barisan Nasional parliamentarians should be allowed to state their objections to the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), said Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Samad.

"They (backbenchers) have the right to object. There is no party line. There's no one line. They have various views. They speak according to their conscience," he told malaysiakini .

"People should be free to talk. (If) we have one stand, then people will ask why we have (only) one stand. I think those who feel very strongly about the IPCMC should be allowed to express their views," he said.

Since the Dewan Rakyat session started last week, BN backbenchers - especially those representing Umno - have spoken out strongly against the formation of the proposed police watchdog body.

They generally felt that setting up such a body - as recommended in the Police Royal Commission Report last year - would demoralise the police force, and said existing mechanisms are sufficient to ensure discipline and conduct.

Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia today quoted Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail as saying that a study into setting up the commission will take the parliamentarians' objections into consideration.

The Umno-owned newspaper in its editorial today also called on the AG to look carefully into the views of MPs.

"Although (these objections) were from several parliamentarians, we believe they are in line with the view of the majority of the rakyat," claimed the editorial.

In January, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had announced that the government would set up the IPCMC . His decision came soon after a special inquiry into the infamous 'nude squats' video-clip exposed abuse of police powers.

Adjustments needed

Shahrir said the BBC itself would not take a position on whether or not to support the IPCMC.

"We have never taken any stance. We've never taken any unified or particular stance as far as IPCMC is concerned.

"We've taken a general stance in term of supporting the government's legislation on most issues. We take that line."

Defending the BN backbenchers, Shahrir said they were "not rebelling" against the premier's decision as suggested by the Opposition.

"Why do people complain? They complain that we always follow what the government wants. When we object and ask to look at (ideas) seriously, it (is) also (seen as a) problem. You should be happy to listen to people who do not agree with you," he said.

Shahrir, who is Johor Bahru parliamentarian, was previously reported as having expressed support for the IPCMC.

Asked to confirm this, he said: "I do not want to see it in the form that has been proposed. I would like to see a middle line (being taken with some) adjustment," he said.

Explaining, he said the jurisdiction of the proposed watchdog should be extended over all government agencies, not just the police force.

"You must (also) ensure that the rights of police officers are respected if they are accused of something. There must be the right to counsel, for instance," he said.