IPCMC scrapped to please Corrupted police officers’

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today gave his reasons as to why the government has dismissed the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) – it is to protect “Malay police officers”.

Anwar made the comment during the debate on Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill which will replace the much-stronger IPCMC.

Implementation of the IPCMC came to standstill in 2006 after the police force rejected the proposals and held government to ransom by threatening to let crime to rise and to vote for the opposition.

Anwar, who is the Permatang Pauh MP, also claimed that the government had sidelined the original IPCMC proposals out of fear that it could jeopardise high ranking officials in the force who were tainted.

Anwar also lashed out at the government saying that unlike the IPCMC proposals, the EAIC lacked any credible force and political will to combat corruption within the respective enforcement agencies.

“The EAIC defeats the original intent to ensure that the police force is effective, responsible, honest and effective.

“The EAIC is not independent and it with weak check and balance mechanisms. It does not have any powers to investigate the police personnel, so much so that complaint lodged on the police are investigated by the police,” said Anwar.

However, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, also the Umno Youth chief, rebuked Anwar for playing the racial card and said that the rejection of the IPCMC proposals was because the implementation could demoralise the police force.

“You are the first to say that the IPCMC was rejected to protect Malay officers… we from the BN have never said that, you are the one playing the race issue here,” said Khairy.

We recognise their importance

At a press conference later, Anwar told reporters that it was absurd to say that he was playing the racial card when he criticised the police.

“I did allude to fact that criticisms against the police seem unfair as it involves Malay police officers… the vast majority of the police personnel are Malays,” he said.

“In the debate there is always this allegation that we condemn the police force and that we have no regard and respect for them… this is a blatant lie.

“We do recognise the importance of police personnel, we defend their rights, we understand their sacrifices and we want them to succeed but they cannot be held ransom over the inefficiency of a few senior police personnel. That is the major question,” said Anwar.

“We want to know why they are being protected. What is at stake? We want a professional police force with impeccable credentials… we appreciate and recognise them but we cannot condone corruption, intimidation and bullying by Malay, Chinese or Indians,” he stressed.

“I think this is really unfortunate if we have to choose to defend them just because they happen to be Malays,” he said.

Members of parliament are presently debating the EAIC bill which is expected to be passed before the end of the current Parliament sitting on Thursday.

S Pathmawathy, Mkini