KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) bill after a majority voice vote.
Home minister Hamzah Zainudin had earlier tabled the bill for its second and third reading.
The bill seeks to establish an independent oversight commission for police conduct.
According to the bill, the commission will be authorised to handle matters related to complaints and investigations into alleged misconduct. It would also advise the government on matters related to integrity in the police force.
It was introduced in 2020 to replace the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill that had been tabled in Parliament by the Pakatan Harapan government in 2019. The decision to replace the bill was made by the Cabinet after the change of government in March 2020.
During the debate, MPs questioned the provisions under the bill, particularly on the appointment of members to the proposed commission.
Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) questioned why the appointment of the commission’s secretary needed the approval of the home minister.
“I would like to ask why the green light from the minister is needed? Shouldn’t we trust the commission to choose whoever it believes is suitable for the post?”
Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) questioned the need for the IPCC when there was already the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
He said the IPCC might end up being another “toothless tiger” like the EAIC, as seen from the many cases of police brutality and deaths in custody.
Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PAS-Dungun) asked whether those in the running to be commissioners would be subjected to background checks.
Responding to this, Hamzah said candidates would be screened by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Bukit Aman’s Special Branch.
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