In a response to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Malaysia said it has already formed the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) in 2009.
Further, the government said, in the report released last month, that it has also conducted workshops to ensure enforcement agencies are aware of human rights.
"Relevant government agencies and Suhakam have conducted seminars, workshops and training programmes to promote awareness and education in relation to human rights to police officers and other enforcement agencies.
"Malaysia is committed to maintain effective mechanisms to ensure an independent investigation of alleged misconduct by government officials, including law enforcement personnel," it said.
The government added that it also has the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, set up in 2008, to deal with issues of corruption in the police force.
This was part of its response in the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review.
Easy to make commitments in Geneva
Asked of this at a press conference yesterday, Human Rights Watch deputy director of Asia Phil Roberston said he is surprised that Malaysia claimed that the EAIC was set up in 2009.
He said that in fact, the law enabling the EAIC was passed in 2009 but it took at least two more years after that for the commission to be set up.
"It is easy to make commitments in Geneva. I believe the Malaysian government would want to put it best foot forward (in the situation)," he said.
However, he said, it is clear that the EAIC has "fell far short of anyone's expectations", having only managed to secure three disciplinary actions against enforcement officers, with two of those only warnings, since it was set up.
"After RM4.2 million spent, then it would be very expensive convictions indeed, and these are not even convictions."Our view is that the EAIC, even if it has the individuals with political will and experience to investigate (police abuse) will have a hard time (to deliver) as it oversees 19 agencies," Robertson (left) said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
He added that the severity of abuse in the police force, as detailed in the 102-page HRW report launched yesterday, warrants a separate independent oversight body.
Lumping the police with all the other agencies, he said, "distracts" from the severity of the situation.
In the meantime, HRW recommended the setting up of an ombudsman body within police to deal with police misconduct, and providing enough resources for EAIC's operations.
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