MACC: Set up Police Integrity Commission

Mkini

The police should revisit their own suggestion to set up an Independent Police Integrity Commission (IPIC), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP) says.

In addition, it said the police Integrity Department and Disciplinary Division should be expanded into an Internal Affairs Division that “has more teeth”.

“We are very satisfied with the explanations given by the police on their efforts to combat graft. We feel that the police have taken many initiatives and made many efforts on issues involving misconduct and others.

“However, there are still problems regarding the community’s perception towards the police,” CCPP chairperson Johan Jaaffar (left) at a press conference today.

The press conference was held after a meeting between MACC and Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar at Bukit Aman this morning.

In a statement circulated after the press conference, the CCPP said the suggestion to relook at the IPIC proposal was in response to ‘problems’ in setting up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which was proposed by a royal commission of inquiry.

“The panel opines that IPIC can be an independent supervisory body that can play its role of deterring any police misconduct and abuse of power, with the same effectiveness as the IPCMC, including those that involve graft.

“The panel believes that IPIC is the pinnacle in the efforts to reform the police,” the statement said.

Following the meeting this morning, Johan said, the police and the MACC have also agreed to an “adopt a department” programme, where problematic police units would be given consultation and guidance on combatting corruption.

‘Graft is on the decline’

Meanwhile, police Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Zubaidah Md Ismail told reporters that the overall number of cases of graft involving the force is on the decline.

Zubaidah (left) said based on MACC’s figures, the commission has arrested 93 police personnel and officers between January and September this year.

Of these, four cases have been taken to court, while 54 are still pending investigation.

In 2012, there were 130 arrests, 21 charges and 98 pending investigation, while in 2013 there were 50 arrests, 18 charges and 16 pending investigation.

Following this, the police in April this year launched an anti-corruption campaign.

Zubaidah said there had been 17 reported cases of graft, from which 22 persons offering bribes were arrested, while 36 members of the force have been given certificates commending them for rejecting bribes.