"It's all about their ego and autonomy," declared Kota Melaka MP Wong Nai Chee on the reasons why the police force is resisting the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

"With ego and unwillingness to let go of their autonomy to allow others to investigate them for their misconduct, that's why", the MP and MCA Youth committee member candidly told malaysiakini on Thursday after his speech in the Dewan Rakyat.

The 37-year-old lawyer-politician was the sole backbencher to strongly support the independent police watchdog in the House last week after a number of Umno backbenchers spoke against it.

The IPCMC was touted as the most important recommendation, out of the 125 recommendations, made by the Royal Police Commission last year. The commission is backed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Given that the draft bill of the IPCMC has been prepared by the commission which comprised a former police top brass, Wong said there is no other reason why the proposal could not be implemented, except for the lack of political will.

"It is political will, it is only politics that can push through (the IPCMC formation)," he said.

However, when asked whether he was referring to the prime minister who lacks the political will, the MP responded: "He (the premier) is trying to see the reactions from MPs. The premier has not informed the backbenchers that he has decided to set aside the IPCMC proposal, added Wong.

The member from Kota Melaka also reminded his colleagues in the Dewan Rakyat not to confuse the public by claiming that Abdullah has only wanted an independent panel to check police misconduct but not the proposed IPCMC.

"There shouldn't be any confusion because the prime minister has answered in Parliament and he was referring to IPCMC. He didn't say independent police commission, which is the existing commission within the police force now," said the first-term MP.

Cover-up syndrome

The vocal backbencher also said the IPCMC proposal has been received well by the grassroots in his constituency, as the existing mechanism to oversee the complaints against police has failed and there is no check and balance in the existing mechanism.

"When we are trying to point our finger at the (US detention centre) Guantanamo Bay, abuses of human rights are actually happening in our own country," he said.

Asked on the police's perception that they are the only enforcement agency being 'targeted' by the public but not other agencies, Wong replied, "If we have not done anything wrong, why be so afraid?"

He said the reports released by the commission and the independent inquiry over the nude ear-squat scandal have the people's declining trust against the police and this has to be curbed.

"A lot of people have accused the police of having the cover-up syndrome. Like I've pointed out; there are 80 deaths in police custody but only eight inquests were held. There must be some sort of explanation on why somebody suddenly died while in police custody," he said.

More BN MPs are expected to voice their supports for the IPCMC following Wong's speech, when the Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes next Monday, which is the last day for the debates on the motion to thank the royal address.

The next two days have been allocated for ministerial replies.