PETALING JAYA, JUNE 12- DAP vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran will table a motion on the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in Parliament.
“Various dissenters and opponents of the IPCMC have over the years offered all sorts of reasons for their position but this has only emboldened the police to inflict their summary punishments.”Every death in custody is unacceptable even if it is a suicide,” he said in reference to a Japanese national who hanged himself while in police custody here.
Kulasegaran said the rising rate of custodial deaths in Malaysia is “a national scandal that constitutes a deep stain on the criminal justice system in this country.”
The Ipoh Barat MP is drafting a bill of acceptance of a simple majority. He also confirmed that besides Pakatan Rakyat representatives, some BN MPs are also in support of the bill.
“The role of an opposition has transformed over the years from just criticising, we are now an alternative to the government and if the government fails to come up with a solution, the opposition will come up with the acceptable solution,” he added.
Recently, The Cabinet’s decision to opt for the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) and other mechanisms instead of the IPCMC has come under fire.
Home minister must act
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy also called for the IPCMC to be set up.
The Hindraf leader said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must take pro-active steps to establish IPCMC in line with the recommendation made by the Royal Commission on the Police Force.
He said the government can no longer drag its feet on the issue.
“The home minister must establish IPCMC to restore public confidence in the police. It is the best way to monitor and stop abuses and deaths in custody.
“The minister can’t compromise on blatant violation of human rights,” he added.
