New bill to replace IPCMC Bill 2019 - Takiyuddin

A new bill will be tabled next Wednesday (Aug 26) to replace the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2019, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said the IPCMC bill which was scheduled for debate in Parliament on the same day (Wednesday) was withdrawn due to objections from various parties who did not agree with its implementation.

"The IPCMC was withdrawn and will be replaced with a new Bill that has the same meaning (relating to police misconduct) but is modified and given a different name.

"The decision to withdraw the bill was made by the government. Some of the contents of the bill were not acceptable to police personnel so the government and KDN (Ministry of Home Affairs), decided to introduce a new one," he told the media after the handing over the letter of appointment for the Commissioner of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) here today.

Takiyuddin said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was expected to table the new bill on Wednesday for the first reading and the second reading the following day (Aug 27).

He said, the Cabinet meeting had agreed with the tabling of the new bill and stressed that the EAIC would be maintained.

The IPCMC 2019 Bill was tabled for the first time in the Dewan Rakyat on July 18 last year with the aim of replacing the EAIC to enhance the integrity and capabilities of the Royal Malaysia Police.

The IPCMC will act as an independent monitoring body to receive complaints and conduct investigations into police misconduct.

Takiyuddin in his speech earlier said that the EAIC's function was not only focused on investigating misconduct complaints, but also played a role in monitoring the standard operating procedures (SOP) of enforcement agencies, including visits to premises such as detention depots and police lock-ups.

"As a result of its function, EAIC will recommend to the government the steps and improvements needed to enhance the quality of service of the enforcement agencies.

"The establishment of the EAIC by the government since 2011, is not to find fault with an officer or an enforcement agency alone.

"But this Commission is also actually a shield to enforcement agencies and a medium or platform to help federal enforcement agencies further enhance the quality of their workforce integrity, thus assisting the government in improving the service delivery system to the people," he said.

He also urged that the public to be wise in choosing complaint channels to avoid the risk of security threats and to provide protection for them as informants.

"I notice that with the passage of time and the development of technology, many now tend to spread cases of misconduct or disciplinary shortfalls through various applications in new media such as WhatsApp, telegrams, social media and blogs.

"Although this medium of news delivery is very fast and is at your fingertips, we also need to know that there are incidents when transmitted brought various other implications to other parties, including the complainant himself," he said.

During the ceremony, Takiyuddin presented the letter of appointment to EAIC chairman and commissioner who was appointed for a period of three years effective July 1.

Former Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan was appointed as the chairman of the EAIC while former Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Zainun Ali was appointed deputy chairman.

The commission also comprises Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk John Louis O'hara and International Islamic University Malaysia Legal Adviser Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod.

-- BERNAMA