No to IPCMC: Lip Eng slams Hisham for disrespecting King and citizens

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com (Written by Selena Tay, 18/2/2011)

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who is the lawyer for two victims of alleged police misconduct, slammed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for disrespecting the wishes of the King and the people by refusing to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission. "In disregarding the recommendation of the Royal Commission, the Home Ministry has shown disrespect to the rakyat as the Royal Commission is under the auspices of the Yang Dipertuan Agong who represents the rakyat. The Home Ministry has therefore chosen to ignore the voice of the rakyat," Lip Eng told Malaysia Chronicle.

Despite growing public unhappiness with the police, Hisham - the cousin of Prime Minister Najib Razak - had insisted that the situation was under control and did not warrant an IPCMC. Yet since the Dzaiddin Royal Police Commission was established in 2004 to look into widespread public complaints about police corruption and brutality, there has been litttle improvement and many even argue that things have become worse.

"We cannot let this go on. The police is the enforcement agency and the bad impression or image that the public has of them has got to stop. Therefore, the BN Government must set up the IPCMC immediately and not give lame excuses not to do so. As far as I know, the Home Ministry will not be setting up the IPCMC and this is absolutely wrong as the IPCMC was recommended by the Royal Commission which was set up to look into this matter," Lip Eng said.

Worsening relations between the police and the people

After a year-long study, the Dzaiddin Report was submitted to the federal government in April 2005. It contained 125 recommendations, the core proposal of which was the establishment of IPCMC - where the public could air their grievances and complaints. Even then Hishammuddin - who was the Umno Youth chief at that time - had led protests against the formation of the IPCMC. It is believed that that the corrupt and the influential within the force had opposed the IPCMC on fears it would curtail their income from unhealthy sources and underground activities. Umno was also accused of being afraid to antagonise the force, which is one of the ruling party's biggest vote banks, and of closing an eye to the calls of the citizenry for a thorough spring cleaning. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has also condemned the government for lacking the political will to stop the police from committing abuses.

Meanwhile, Lip Eng pointed to the deteriorating relationship between the police and the people.

He gave examples in other countries, especially in Britain where it can be seen that the public are very friendly with the police whom they consider as their neighbourhood friends. "On the contrary in Malaysia the rakyat avoid the police and do not want to have anything to do with the police to the extent that sometimes snatch theft cases are not reported. Some people also fear the police victimising them for offences such as not wearing seat belt or helmet," added Lip Eng. The Segambut MP also reiterated that an IPCMC was good news and a win-win situation. "The IPCMC can enable the police to regain public confidence. In fact the police need the IPCMC more than the public," said Lip Eng.

Lip Eng is the lawyer holding a watching brief for Chia Buang Hing, a businessman who claimed that he was assaulted by 4 policemen at the Kota Damansara police station in December 2010. He is also the counsel for a lady shop proprietor who claimed that she was slapped by a police officer during a raid on her shop earlier this month.