IPCMC – “bellyache” of a reply by Deputy Internal Security Minister

_________________
Speech
by Lim Kit Siang  
______________________

(Parliament, Monday) : It was a “bellyache” of a reply on the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) by the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Mohd Johari bin Bahrom, to my question in Parliament this morning as there is not a single thing which he said which is new.

Agreement “in principle” on the establishment of an independent oversight commission made by the Working Committee on the implementation of the Royal Police Commission recommendations made more than a year ago, and that the Attorney-General’s Chambers in the “final stages” of its study on the proposal. No commitment that  the IPCMC would be set up with the enabling legislation passed in the current parliamentary meeting which will be sitting  till December this year!

A total blank to my question on the latest position on the establishment of the IPCMC.  As I reminded Parliament during my supplementary question, the Royal Police Commission was established “amidst widespread concerns regarding the high incidence of crime, perception of corruption with the Royal Malaysia Police, general dissatisfaction with the conduct and performance of police personnel”, but today the situation has generally got worse as highlighted by the recent senseless killings of KTAR student in Setapak, Lee Kian Yip and Kuantan sales girl Ng Chew Lim in snatch-robberies.

But Johari gave the glib and irresponsible reply that thanks to the Police, Kuala Lumpur is now very safe, especially with some 255 CCTVs – which clearly did not impress the former Inspector-General of Police who was also Deputy Chairman of the Royal Police Commission, Tun Hanif Omar, who had to arm himself with a shot gun to protect himself when he drives out from his house in Kuala Lumpur.

How are ordinary mortals to defend themselves when the former IGP has to arm himself with a shotgun when out  in Kuala Lumpur?

But what is most disappointing is that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was not in Parliament to reply to the IPCMC question. In the last two Parliamentary meetings, Abdullah had made a point to personally answer the IPCMC question in Parliament.

Is his absence this time a reflection of the plunge  in the priority of the IPCMC and Police reforms in the agenda of the Prime Minister, who is also Internal Security Minister.

In my supplementary, I expressed my regret at Abdullah’s absence from Parliament, which he attends rarely despite his promise when he became Prime Minister to set an example for all Cabinet Ministers.  He is not setting a good example to all other  Cabinet Ministers on their parliamentary attendance and responsibilities.

(21/08/2006)