KUALA LUMPUR – A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the government to empower the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) to remedy the growing public trust deficit with the police force.
In a joint press statement issued today, the CSOs, including prominent groups such as Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Amnesty International Malaysia, expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of police misconduct across the country.
The recent cases highlighted by the CSOs include allegations of extortion and rape of an Uzbek teenaged college student, a police officer slapping a civilian, a senior officer involved in a hit-and-run resulting in the death of a high school student, and the arrest of a police inspector on charges of abducting a Bangladeshi man.
“The Royal Malaysian Police, as the largest enforcement agency in the country, is tasked with protecting the public. However, the recent incidents of misconduct reveal a disturbing trend that goes beyond isolated crimes, indicating a systemic issue within the police force,” the statement said.
The CSOs emphasised the inadequacies of the existing police oversight mechanism and pointed out that the government missed an opportunity to strengthen the IPCC, a key institution meant to address the systemic problem.
The appointment of five IPCC members, announced two weeks ago, was criticised for being made without engaging non-governmental stakeholders, particularly CSOs.
The CSOs also raised concerns about the unity government’s failure to improve the Independent Police Conduct Commission Act in line with input from NGOs.
They noted that the current scope of the IPCC diverges from the stance of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which rejected the IPCC Bill in 2022.
The CSOs argued that the IPCC is less effective as an oversight mechanism than the already inadequate Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
The statement highlighted structural deficiencies within the IPCC, describing it as a ‘toothless tiger.’
The commission lacks the authority to conduct searches and seizures, make unannounced visits to police lockups, or take direct disciplinary action against offending officers.
Instead, its jurisdiction is limited to providing recommendations to the Police Force Commission, the CSOs said.
Despite these concerns, the CSOs expressed a commitment to work with the government to improve the IPCC. They proposed arranging a meeting between CSOs and IPCC members to explore avenues for effective functioning.
Simultaneously, they called on the government to implement an open and transparent selection process for the remaining two IPCC member vacancies and ensure diversity in the commission’s makeup.
The CSOs urged a review of the commission’s performance and effectiveness every two years, with findings presented in Parliament. They emphasised the need for legal amendments and policy improvements to align the IPCC with best practices and international standards.
“An independent and effective police oversight entity is crucial for both the public and the police force. The role of the IPCC is of heightened significance amid the decline in PDRM’s reputation and the widening trust deficit among the public,” the groups said.
“We urge transparent and impartial investigations into instances of police misconduct to uphold and safeguard PDRM’s (Royal Malaysian Police) integrity.” – January 22, 2024