PUTRAJAYA: The establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) will not only restore the image of the police in the eyes of the public, but would also safeguard the force’s welfare.
Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad said: “For police officers who did not commit any wrongdoings, I feel that there is nothing to be afraid of.”
Dr Mahathir said this after chairing the eighth Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption, here, today.
He congratulated National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador for successfully reaching an agreement to form the IPCMC.
“I’m grateful that the criticism and concerns by the police over the setting up of the IPCMC have been successfully resolved.
“Congratulations to GIACC and the new IGP for discussing and explaining to the representatives of the police associations on the importance of setting up the IPCMC to restore the image of police,” he added.
Kassim was reported as saying that several adjustments were made to the proposed IPCMC Bill based on the concerns raised by police.
On a separate matter, Dr Mahathir said the government would study whether to declassify May 13 race riots documents and form a commission to pursue reconciliation.
Human rights watchdog Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) director and author Kua Kia Soong had urged the government to declassify the documents to get the full story behind the incident, which took place 50 years ago.
Meanwhile, on the Defence Ministry land swap scandal, Dr Mahathir said even the prime minister was subject to investigation.
“The police will investigate the matter, the prime minister, as well, nobody is above the law,” he said.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu
in tabling the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigating Committee report in the Dewan Negara last week, revealed that political interest was involved in 13 of 16 land swap deals that had taken place since 1997.
Dr Mahathir affirmed that it was the government’s intention to produce a report on those who were involved in graft involving the land swap deals but had since retired or were no longer with the ministry.
“The government can still take action on those who are no longer in the ministry.
“It is our intention to make a report on wrongdoings done in the past whether the wrongdoers are here or no longer here, and legal action will be taken,” he said.
On Malaysia’s move to repatriate
a woman sought by the authorities in Thailand over her anti-monarchy views, Dr Mahathir said: “They (Thailand authorities) asked, we send her back. We are good neighbours.”
Human Rights Watch reported that Praphan Pipithnamporn, an asylum-seeker registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was nabbed by Malaysian police in April on Thailand’s request before being repatriated last week.
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