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Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohd Bakari Omar’s belated and grudging  support  for the 125 recommendations of the  Royal Police Commission  is welcome as it signifies  that there Is still hope to create a clean, accountable, efficient, human rights-sensitive, professional world-class police service in Malaysia as proposed by the Royal Police Commission.

Speaking at the  Air Hitam Police Training Centre (Pulapol) 25^th anniversary celebrations in Jempol yesterday, Bakri “sent a message to the force” - failing to put into action proposals of the Royal Commission will be a sign of disrespect to the Government.

Bakri said: "If we fail or do not implement the proposals, we will be seen as not showing respect not only to the Royal Commission set up by the Government, but also the Government that had accepted the report."  (New Sunday Times)

The Inspector-General of Police had been conspicuously silent and even absent from public functions  in the past nine months after the submission of the first Dzaiddin Royal Police Commission Report and its 125 recommendations in May last year – giving the impression that he was “sulking” at the Report and giving sustenance to  police opposition and resistance to the 125 recommendations, in particular the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

As the head of the police force, Bakri should have been in the very forefront right from the beginning to openly support  the Prime Minister in his major reform plank  to create a clean, accountable,  efficient, human rights-sensitive, professional world-class police service – instead of being construed as  aiding and abetting police opposition and resistance to the Royal Police Commission Report and  recommendations which would be a form of insubordination.

In his speech yesterday, Bakri publicly endorsed the figure that 80 per cent of the 125 recommendations of the Royal Police Commission had been implemented.

I find it very regrettable that the Inspector-General of Police has officially declined to meet DAP Members of Parliament to discuss the Royal Police Commission and its 125 recommendations.  I had earlier written to the IGP asking for such a meeting.

If it is true that the Police had implemented 80 per cent of the 125 recommendations, it is a feather in the cap for the police and the IGP. Why then should  the IGP be so embarrassed or reluctant to have  a meeting with MPs to discuss a subject which the police have every reason to be  very proud of?

(19/02/2006)