Suggesting that the matter be investigated by the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), the president of the Malaysian Bar added, “The licence to operate (a firearms business) is issued by the state police chief, who is subordinate to the IGP.”
“The question is whether the decision-making was influenced or not. This can be resolved by the IPCMC,” he said in his keynote address at the national consultation session on promoting greater police accountability in Malaysia, organised by the Bar’s task force on IPCMC today.
The idea of the commission was mooted by a royal commission report in 2004 to enhance the operation and management of the police force.
The recommendation was however rejected by the police, Thiru said, adding that the government proceeded to form the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC), a watered down version of the IPCMC, as an alternative.
“The IGP has denied any conflict of interest. I will leave it to you to decide,” Thiru said to participants of the one-day roundtable discussion comprising civil society groups and members of the Malaysian Bar.
In April, the Sarawak Report website said Khalid’s second daughter, Juwiza Khalid, 32, was the largest shareholder in Nilai Arms & Ammunitions (NAA). Khalid’s brother-in-law, Mohd Isa Husin, 59, was also a director of the company.
Khalid however responded that his daughter had obtained the business licence before he was appointed the IGP.