IPCMC. When, Oh When, Pak Lah?

I have a strange feeling that the government is depending on the short, poor memory of the public to slowly 'bury' the IPCMC without fanfare or funeral. How else can you explain the deafening silence from even the normally vociferous types in the government? The only one making headlines almost everyday is that despicable jackass from Jasin, Mohd Said Yusof, who at least is keeping the Customs Department in the news.

Probably quite fed up with the inertia displayed by the authorities, The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urged the government to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as soon as possible. "It is critical that the IPCMC comes to fruition without delay as an independent system dealing with complaints by ordinary citizens in order to ensure accountability and transparency, factors essential in a democratic society," Suhakam's secretary Ahmad Yusuf Ngah said. Only through a police force that subscribes to the highest standards of fairness and professionalism would human rights and fundamental freedom be respected.

The IPCMC is one of the major recommendations of the Royal Police Commission last year for the enhancement of the operations and management of the police force. Its establishment was delayed due to resistance within the force and their objections via the police website caused a storm of protests in the media and the blogs. Screenshots had a field day on that issue. However, Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan indicated recently that the police would no longer object to the establishment of the commission. Why the IGP has suddenly gone silent is a mystery.

It is the hope of The Malaysian, along with the millions of others concerned about police adventurism, to put it mildly, that Pak Lah comes forward very soon and complies with the recommendations of the Royal Police Commission as is required of him by all. But will he?