The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) has declared its support to the Bar Council in their campaign to get the government to set up the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

KLSCAH president Bong Hon Liong said that the move by the Bar was a praise-worthy one as it was important for all to help get the Police Department regain the trust and confidence of the public.

The IPCMC, Bong told the KLSCAH annual general meeting yesterday, would help to effectively supervise, investigate and solve the cases of abuse of power and dereliction of duty by certain quarters in the police force.

In that light, Bong also urged the government to look seriously in the matter, saying that it should be brought up for debate in Parliament and passed soon.

He called on all members of KLSCAH who are also representatives from various Chinese associations to sign the Bar Council's petition in support of the setting up of IPCMC. So far, 120 members of KLSCAH had endorsed the IPCMC petition.

Resolution adopted

Bong also noted with regret the government's failure to adhere by the May 31 headline suggested by the Royal Police Commission to implement IPCMC.

The setting up of IPCMC was also a resolution adopted at the meeting.

The Bar Council-initiated petition was launched in early April.

Speaking at the launch then, Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh said the fact that two commissions of inquiry have repeated the need for an independent police watchdog spoke "volumes of its importance" of institutional reform.

"An IPCMC is an essential part of the much-needed reform," he asserted..

Detractors claim the IPCMC will further demoralise and discriminate against police personnel, and that it overlaps with existing human rights watchdog and public complaints mechanisms.

Meanwhile, at yesterday's KLSCAH meeting, 30 members were elected to serve in the new committee. However, the office-bearers will be decided on July 1.