The only way to restore public confidence is to establish the IPCMC and implement recommendations of the 2005 Dzaiddin Royal Commission Report

Public confidence in the Royal Malaysian Police Force has severely eroded over the years, with the latest outrageous scandal involving an Indonesian restaurant worker who was allegedly raped by three policemen. Last week, a police corporal and two constables have been charged for the alleged crime.

How are Malaysians to have any confidence in the police when the very officers entrusted with upholding the rule of law and public safety can be alleged to have committed such a heinous crime, and in a police station no less! Unless the people have unquestioned confidence that the police will protect the public and not behave like criminals, the billions of ringgit spent every year by the Federal government will not improve the image of the police as a responsible defender of public safety.

This incident follows numerous others over the years, including the recent death of furniture salesman Cheah Chin Lee while in police custody, and many other high-profile cases over the last few years such as the death of A. Kugan and 14-year-old student Aminulrasyid Amzah who was gunned down in cold blood. The rape of the Indonesian maid in the police station is so serious that not only has it adversely affected the image of the police but also Malaysia’s image internationally.

The only way left to restore public confidence and to prove the Federal government’s sincerity and commitment to integrity, rule of law and public safety is to immediately establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as well as to implement unconditionally the 125 recommendations of the 2005 Royal Commission on the Enhancement of the Management and Operations of PDRM, which was led by former Chief Justice Tun Dzaiddin.

The IPCMC was the core recommendation of the Dzaiddin Royal Comission, so much so that a draft bill was even included in the 2005 Royal Commission Report. The IPCMC will also help to remove public perception that the police is used as a political tool to help BN fix up the opposition parties. Further IPCMC will also help to professionalise the police by ensuring that they conduct their duties solely to protect the people by fighting criminal activities and ensure public safety.

The failure to establish the IPCMC after 7 years since its recommendation has not only revealed the BN government’s unwillingness and insincerity in dealing with the problem of police abuse and corruption but has also led to worsening public perception regarding the police. The establishment of the IPCMC would not only allow the public an avenue for filing their complaints, but it can also keep the police on their toes and ensure that such incidents of abuse of power are not repeated.

Thus, DAP demands for the full and unconditional implementation of the 125 recommendations of the 2005 Dzaiddin Royal Commission, including its most important proposal of all, which is to set up the IPCMC.