KUALA LUMPUR: The tabling of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill at the Dewan Rakyat was postponed following a decision by the cabinet.
“(The postponement) is to allow all relevant stakeholders to give more views. March (next parliamentary sitting) is only three months from now,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
This is the second time that the second reading of the bill had been postponed.
It was reported on Oct 7 that the bill would be referred to the special select committee for further study and discussion before being tabled again in the Dewan Rakyat.
The bill, which was tabled for first reading on July 18, was aimed at replacing the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) in enhancing the integrity and capability of the police.
The IPCMC will act as an independent body to study complaints and investigate allegations of police misconduct.
Liew said the review was necessary in order to establish regulations relating to the conduct of disciplinary proceedings enacted in accordance with the existing Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 [PU (A) 395] applicable to police personnel.
“The same goes for the classification of minor misconduct. This is important to facilitate the implementation of this act when passed.
“In this case, the GIACC (National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption) will be assigned to discuss with the stakeholders, and the police in particular, relating to the enactment of regulations under clause 50 of the IPCMC bill and the classification of misconduct under clause 22 (2) of the new IPCMC bill,” he added.
The Special Select Committee chairman Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh was originally scheduled to table the select committee’s report on the bill.
Liew had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that the second and third readings of the bill would be postponed to the next parliamentary session in March, prompting cheers from some Barisan Nasional members of parliament (MPs).
Several MPs, including former home minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had previously asked for the tabling to be postponed, saying that the setting up of a body overseeing the police force must be with much deliberation and properly implemented.