Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said the commission was vital to address the ever rising cases of death in police custody.
GEORGE TOWN: A DAP parliamentarian today called on the Putrajaya administration to stop giving excuses and set up immediately the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry headed by Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah.
Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said the commission was vital to address the ever rising cases of death in police custody.
He said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s federal government’s lack of seriousness and commitment to address custodial deaths had been disappointing and irresponsible.
“How many more custodial deaths must occur before the federal government sets up the IPCMC?” asked Kulasegaran, the DAP national vice-chairman, in a press statement here today.
He welcomed the Penang state government’s move to set up a three-man committee to monitor and address custodial deaths.
He noted that the Pakatan Rakyat government set up the committee after it received no response to its letters enquiring about custodial deaths that were sent a month ago to the Attorney-General, the police and Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.
Kulasegaran said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said in Parliament last July that the proposed IPCMC was rejected because it went against the Federal Constitution, while denying natural justice.
However, Kulasegaran said Dzaiddin had countered that the proposed IPCMC was consistent with the Federal Constitution.
Dzaiddin pointed out that Article 140 thereof provides that Parliament may by law provide for the exercise of the Police Force Commission’s disciplinary control over members of the police force in such manner and such authority as may be provided in that law.
“Therefore, there can be no doubt about its consistency with the Federal Constitution,” Dzaiddin said in response to Zahid’s statement.
Last year, Kulasegaran recalled that then High Court judge VT Singham had in the Kugan verdict said the IPCMC should be set up soon because the public and family members of custodial death victims had little confidence in police investigations.
The DAP leader also questioned if the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of integrity and corruption Paul Low, had forgotten his promise last June to do something to stop the incidents.
He said Paul Low had said then that the government, being concerned with the alarming statistics of custodial deaths, was determined to stop all future tragedies behind bars.
“Do not think they are blind to what is out there. It is just that the process of government needs to find a solution to stop this,” Paul Low had said then.
Kulasegaran is now curious what happened to Paul Low’s promise, in the wake of increasing custodial deaths, including six in six months in Penang.
“Can Paul Low explain why the government is so afraid and reluctant to support the IPCMC when other countries like UK and Australia have similar external oversight bodies?” asked Kulasegaran, a lawyer by profession.
Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said the commission was vital to address the ever rising cases of death in police custody.
He said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s federal government’s lack of seriousness and commitment to address custodial deaths had been disappointing and irresponsible.
“How many more custodial deaths must occur before the federal government sets up the IPCMC?” asked Kulasegaran, the DAP national vice-chairman, in a press statement here today.
He welcomed the Penang state government’s move to set up a three-man committee to monitor and address custodial deaths.
He noted that the Pakatan Rakyat government set up the committee after it received no response to its letters enquiring about custodial deaths that were sent a month ago to the Attorney-General, the police and Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.
Kulasegaran said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said in Parliament last July that the proposed IPCMC was rejected because it went against the Federal Constitution, while denying natural justice.
However, Kulasegaran said Dzaiddin had countered that the proposed IPCMC was consistent with the Federal Constitution.
Dzaiddin pointed out that Article 140 thereof provides that Parliament may by law provide for the exercise of the Police Force Commission’s disciplinary control over members of the police force in such manner and such authority as may be provided in that law.
“Therefore, there can be no doubt about its consistency with the Federal Constitution,” Dzaiddin said in response to Zahid’s statement.
Last year, Kulasegaran recalled that then High Court judge VT Singham had in the Kugan verdict said the IPCMC should be set up soon because the public and family members of custodial death victims had little confidence in police investigations.
The DAP leader also questioned if the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of integrity and corruption Paul Low, had forgotten his promise last June to do something to stop the incidents.
He said Paul Low had said then that the government, being concerned with the alarming statistics of custodial deaths, was determined to stop all future tragedies behind bars.
“Do not think they are blind to what is out there. It is just that the process of government needs to find a solution to stop this,” Paul Low had said then.
Kulasegaran is now curious what happened to Paul Low’s promise, in the wake of increasing custodial deaths, including six in six months in Penang.
“Can Paul Low explain why the government is so afraid and reluctant to support the IPCMC when other countries like UK and Australia have similar external oversight bodies?” asked Kulasegaran, a lawyer by profession.
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