Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has refused to be drawn into the latest round of open rebellion by the police in strongly opposing the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Abdullah who is also Internal Security minister and oversees the police force was earlier told by the opposition to show the cops who is the real boss.

"I don't want to go into that kind of comment, I don't want to say it represents the feeling of everybody," replied Abdullah when asked whether he was upset with the police's threat to vote for the opposition in the next general election should the IPCMC be implemented.

Abdullah was met by reporters this evening after attending the public sector Workers' Day celebration held at the National Institute of Public Administration. The event was also attended by a number of cabinet ministers.

The prime minister reiterated that he has asked Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to study the IPCMC draft bill. He said the IPCMC must be a body that is good for the people and fulfill their needs.

'Deadline doesn't matter'

"The police must be a force which is efficient, good and possesses integrity," he said.

The Royal Police Commission had recommended the IPCMC to be formed by May in its report last year. This means the deadline is tomorrow, May 31.

Asked on this, Abdullah said: "It (the deadline) doesn't matter to the AG. He can talk to the commission if he has something, I don't think that's very difficult."

Last March, Inspector General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar had publicly objected to the proposed independent watchdog. On Saturday, malaysiakini reported that the police force had published a special edition in its website to 'attack' the IPCMC.

In a separate development, the premier said that he has asked the IGP to issue a statement on a news report today that the Malaysian police have arrested 12 members of the Indonesian militant group Darul Islam.

To another question that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) had made paper losses of almost RM5 billion after the 1997 economic crisis as reported by the New Straits Times yesterday, Abdullah told the EPF to be prudent but defended its management.

"We want EPF to be cautious and prudent in making their investments in whatever field that it thinks is suitable [....] But I know the EPF people are responsible and its chief executive officer is very good man and he knows his job," replied Abdullah.

On another matter, Abdullah said the negotiation to build the Southeast Asia's first Disneyland theme park in Johor was merely at a preliminary stage.