[Malaysia] Sub-Committees on the Police Commission

Sub-committees to study police commission’s recommendations
Beh Lih Yi, Malaysiakini
Jun 20, 2005

It took more than a year for the Royal Police Commission to come up with recommendations to improve the police force.

Now the government forms sub-committees, with no stipulated time frame, to furnish recommendations on the recommendations.

Five sub-committees have been set-up for this purpose, revealed Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Among them is the committee, headed by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, to study the proposed formation of an independent police watchdog.

The Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) had been touted as the most crucial among the 125 recommendations.

Not compulsory

“We are still studying the matter. A sub-committee (laws and regulations) headed by the Attorney-General has been set up to look into the matter and they will recommend to us what to do next.

“It is not compulsory for us to accept all the recommendations, but this does not mean we will reject all of them,” said Noh in response to a question from Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang on the matter.

He added that accepting a recommendation depended on several factors such as priority, suitability and the government’s ability - financially and legally.

The police commission, headed by former chief justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, had also called for the immediate implementation of the IPCMC and had prepared a draft bill on the matter.

Commenting further, Noh said the government cannot make a rushed decision on the matter.

“We cannot hastily make an announcement because this will be a new legislation. (If we say yes now), but later think maybe there is no need for it, then we cannot revoke the decision. So we will wait for the sub-committee’s recommendation first,” he noted.

The sub-committees came under the cabinet task force chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi set-up to look into the 125 recommendations.

The remaining four sub-committees were related to human resources management, logistic and finance, premise and building as well as work ethics and management modernisation.

In the first cabinet task force meeting recently, the premier announced the immediate allocation of RM2.5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to build 25,000 homes and offices.

Demoralising report

At a press conference later, Noh was queried on why the RM2.5 billion project was given priority over the other recommendations when the commission had suggested that the project be carried out in 2010.

It had instead pushed for the immediate implementation of five other recommendations - reducing the crime rate, eradicating corruption, complying with prescribed laws and human rights and establishing reasonable grounds before arrest.

Instead of answering the question, the deputy minister asked the reporter: ‘Which are the five?’

Noh said many of the recommendations were being implemented but it cannot be exactly pinpointed as to which these were.

He also said the ‘negative image’ cast on the police force as a result of the commission’s report had led some police personnel to feel demoralised.

“To be fair, I have to say the police have been rather effective in terms of carrying out their duty but the commission’s report has portrayed our police force as corrupted and not performing its job.

“We must understand they (police personnel) are also humans and their feelings of not being appreciated,” he added.

Despite the issue topping the list of questions submitted by parliamentarians in this meeting, the commission’s report has not been tabled in the House.