FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS STATEMENT
DENYING THE NEED TO INITIATE FUNDAMENTAL REFORMS WILL TRAILBLAZE THE PATHWAY TOWARDS DESPOTISM. SETTING UP IPCMC AND ABOLISHING THE SEDITION ACT MUST BE MADE A PRIORITY
Back in April this year, in a reply to the United Nations, the government has once again denied that the country needs the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
The government has taken this position against the recommendation to setup the IPCMC by the 2004 Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah’s Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police, despite the 2013 revelation in Parliament in that since 2000, a total of 231 custodial deaths have been recorded in Malaysia’s jails.
According to Suaram, there has been at least 9 custodial deaths recorded in the first half of 2013. Among them is P Karuna Nithi, an engineer, who died in police custody at the Tampin Police District Headquarters in Negeri Sembilan on 1 June 2013.
The Negeri Sembilan police chief initially denied any “foul play”, but the autopsy report said that the coroner found 49 injury marks on his body.
In the case of 14 year old Aminulrashid Amzah, the then Selangor Police Chief, Khalid Abu Bakar has on record defended the policeman who murdered Aminulrasyid in cold blood, by calling the Form 2 boy a criminal.
Instead of demotion, Khalid Abu Bakar has been promoted as our Inspector General Police; the conviction of Corporal Jenain Subi, responsible for Aminulrasyid’s death – overturned in 2012; and the IPCMC is nowhere in sight.
Is this the brand of justice that Malaysia is promoting?
Today, persecutions using the archaic and draconian Sedition Act against opposition leaders, academics and anyone who Khalid Abu Bakar finds offensive continues.
Is UMNO-BN only going to be satisfied when all criticisms are stifled, when all elected leaders are either silenced or jailed, or worse?
Clearly, the government must begin work to setup the IPCMC. When you deny the need to initiate fundamental reforms you only end up trailblazing the pathway towards despotism.
Malaysia has spent millions on various Royal Commission of Inquiries, including Tun Dzaiddin’s 2004 RCI.
The IPCMC, which according to a Bernama report will receive and investigate complaints about PDRM and its personnel; prevent, detect and investigate corruption and other serious misconduct in PDRM; propose measures to the Minister of Internal Security to improve police integrity, reduce misconduct and build public confidence in PDRM.
There is absolutely no excuse why the government shouldn’t implement the IPCMC’s recommendations; as well as see that the Prime Minister fulfils his promise to abolish the Sedition Act.
When all dissenters are silenced, and all criticism muted, the only voice that will reign supreme is that of despots and their Perkasa like supporters, as well as that of the current IGP.
NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LEMBAH PANTAI
VICE PRESIDENT OF KEADILAN
