By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz today said the government believes the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), should it be set up, would have too much prosecuting powers and hence the rejection to its implemention.
His answer shocked many Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers.
The public has long called for an independent body with real power to prosecute rogue police officers. This was one of the many measures needed to reform the police force.
The opposition argued that the government had been fooling around with the introduction of powerless “cosmetic” bodies to deal with the abuse of powers and corruption in enforcement agencies.
But Nazri, in his winding-up speech on the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (Siap) which is the substitute to the IPCMC, obviously thought otherwise.
“Studies have shown that the IPCMC would have too much power as the investigator, the prosecutor, the judge and the executioner,” he said.
“This concept is against the Federal Constitution and existing laws,” he added.
Nazri added that the powers given to the IPCMC would have violated the civil liberties of an individual.
“With the IPCMC, an individual can be condemned even before the complaints against him or her have been proven. He is worse off compared to an accused in a court of law,” said the minister.
But opposition MPs, led by the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, blasted Nazri for his “ridiculous” rationale and believe Siap, with its lack of prosecuting powers, is a publicity stunt aimed at getting votes.
The exchange between Lim and Nazri in the Dewan Rakyat included name calling by both the men with the latter calling the former a “pondan (faggot)” and “wayar putus (shortcircuited brains)”.
At this point, the House erupted into a war zone with the MPs from the PR and BN camp joining the verbal onslaught.
The Speaker later managed to calm things down. The Siap Bill is currently in its second reading and is expected to be passed and made a law either today or tomorrow.
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Perhaps the real power in Malaysia is in the hands of the police and the cabinet and parliament are mere rubber stamp. The home minister is just a puppet.
Looking at what has been happening, many will agree with me.