'IPCMC should go hand-in-hand with guarantees of police rights'

The law enforcement of a country will be crippled if police personnel and service can be bought with bribes, says Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.

"If we want to achieve developed country status, we must have a system of police service that is good, worthy.

"Just look at developed countries like in Europe, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, how the police give good service to their countries,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at Bukit Aman.

Hamid said this in connection with the proposal to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which should simultaneously also provide for the rights of officers.

He said IPCMC was first mooted in 2005, when some quarters called for an investigation into the police force following too many cases of complaints and wrongdoings.

"It could be heard everywhere; I personally felt that these critical voices may have a basis, but at the same time I also felt that the police should be given its rights as stipulated in our contract with the government.

"The government offered us such a service scheme, the government offered this type of welfare environment, the government will provide this infrastructure, so the two will run simultaneously.

“...that is that the police force is protected and accorded its rights as the main enforcement agency in this country, and at the same time it is the responsibility of the police to give to the rakyat, the public the best service as specified by the law itself,” he said.

Hamid said it was inaccurate to say that the appeals from the police with regard to IPCMC were sentimental and emotional.

He added, however, that officers should understand and realise that they are given salaries, power and various facilities, and in return they must give the best service.

"...the result and effect of good implementation of laws is that the public can conduct their daily activities in full safety and the country will progress," he said.

On May 10 this year, the media reported that the police had agreed to the setting up of the IPCMC, with the guarantee that the role and power of the police would not be eroded.

This agreement was reached at a meeting between the police and the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC), which was attended by Hamid and other senior police officers and associations.

GIACC director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed said that matters of concern to the police were clarified during the discussions.

- Bernama

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