前皇家委員與國會議員對話記

Friday, 21-04-2006

在本期國會開始前,為避免國陣議員在國會會議里一致支持首相成立警方獨立投訴委員會(IPCMC)的建議,警隊高層刻意在國會會議召開前夕,設宴款待國陣后坐議員,以向他們解釋警隊的困境和拒絕政府成立IPCMC的原因。

這游說晚宴看來相當有效,巫統多位議員過后在參與感謝元首御詞辯論時,便刻意的抨擊筆者及行動黨破壞警方形象,同時合理化部分警隊的貪污和濫權的行徑,并呼吁政府勿成立IPCMC,前所未有的公然違背首相的建議。

為了平衡議員們的觀點,國會人權核心委員會數日前邀請了數位「探討與提升警察部隊問題的皇家委員會」的前委員,前來國會與議員們進行午餐對話。這數位前皇家委員當中,也包括前總警長敦哈聶夫奧馬和前著名報人卡迪爾加新。

星期二當天午餐時段,我們本來預算參與對話的議員為40位左右,沒想到竟有70多位議員出席。對話開始時,敦哈聶夫奧馬受邀來個開場白,闡明皇家委員會提出改善警察部隊的125項建議和成立IPCMC的原因,他也指出這是他們考察其他國家,例如:香港、澳洲和英國等的結果。

卡迪爾加新接着敘述數年前當他被委任為該皇家委員會的成員時,他曾三度問首相阿都拉對成立該委員會的立場是否是認真的,他也同時預先警告阿都拉說,如果此舉是認真的,那么這等同于「打開一罐子的蟲」,把警察部隊的黑暗攤開來,而在掀開真相后,身為首相的他肯定會承受非常大的壓力。他說,果然,在該委員會調查報告出爐后,其真相比預期的更糟,而他當年給首相的警告,今天都應驗了。

這兩位德高眾望者誠懇的開場白,依然打動不了一些巫統議員的心。當中幾位言論略極端的議員在對話階段,便毫不客氣的向這幾位前皇家委員「開炮」。一位吉打州的議員站出來說,警察在艷陽高照和狂風暴雨時都為人民服務,遇到死人時還要抬尸體,但是他們所領受的薪金卻是那么微薄,我們怎可對他們那么苛刻?這位仁兄反問敦哈聶夫,他在擔任總警長時又為改革警隊做了什么?另一位則說他并不完全同意皇家委員會全部125項建議,他認為我們不應該丑化我國的警隊和打擊他們的士氣,因為我國警隊名列世界第4。他們也認為為何該委員會只針對警方,而不針對其他也同樣被公眾指責貪污的執法單位,例如交通部、土地局等。

只有一位來自吉蘭丹的巫統議員為皇家委員會說好話,他叫議員們應該相信這些政府所委任的前皇家委員們的能力與特長,并相信他們所提出的報告和建議。

這些前皇家委員會的成員說,他們曾在報告書里建議政府也在其他民事服務里設立類似IPCMC的仲裁庭(ombudsmen),來解決政府部門效率不良的問題,但是由于他們被賦予的使命僅限警方,因此他們只能針對警方的問題作出調查和建議。

敦哈聶夫回敬這些質問他的議員道:「如果警界沒有問題,那么政府不會成立一個特別委員會來調查和探討這些問題。我在警隊服務35年,警隊就好像我的血和肉,我怎么不了解和痛惜我的警員?在我擔任總警長的時候,我特別設立了一個紀律組來處理警隊的紀律問題,但是后來接我位子的人沒延續下去,我也無可奈何。」

這對話會后來因時間關系而結束。很明顯的,這幾位前皇家委員會委員的話并不能改變這些反對成立IPCMC的巫統議員的觀點,而他們也沒細讀和研究該皇家委員會的報告和諸項建議,他們只為捍衛警方的「尊嚴」而繼續反對這監督警方的機制。

就因為他們這種態度,導致IPCMC遲遲不能成立,也破壞了普羅大眾面對濫權警員的保障。這是前皇家委員會的遺憾,也是人民的深切遺憾。

(21-4-06)

LKS Is Seeking Appointment With Abdullah on IPCMC

Lim Kit Siang is seeking appointment with Pak Lah on IPCMC. Below is his statement today:

Media Statement (2) by Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP MP for Ipoh
Timur Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on Friday, 21st April 2006:

Seeking appointment with Abdullah on IPCMC —improper pressure by police
and a group of vocal UMNO MPs who do not represent majority of BN MPs
==================================================

I have faxed to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who
is also Internal Security Minister, asking for a meeting on the proposed
Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

I am very concerned that the Prime Minister is backing down from his
public commitment to accept this key recommendation of the Royal Police
Commission as a result of improper pressure by the police as well as
vocal support by a group of UMNO MPs who do not represent all or even the
majority of the Barisan Nasional MPs, especially BN MPs from Sabah,
Sarawak as well as other BN component parties, such as MCA, Gerakan and
MIC.

Unfortunately, the Sabah, Sarawak, MCA, Gerakan, MIC MPs, as well as the
more level-headed and rational UMNO MPs, seem to have been overawed and
bullied by the group of vocal MPs into silence, although in their heart
of hearts they know that IPCMC is good for the people, country and the
police themselves.

IPCMC is not a party issue as it concerns the best interests of the people
and country to have a clean, incorruptible, professional, human
rights-sensitive world-class police service. It is not to run down or
humiliate the Police but the contrary, to enhance police image and
credibility to enjoy public confidence as the neighbourhood friends of
the people.

It is not meant to selectively discriminate against the Police, as the
time has come for Malaysia to uphold good governance by introducing a
system of Ombudsman to subject all government departments and enforcement
agencies to external oversight mechanisms. In this sense, an IPCMC will
be like a Police Ombudsman (as it is called in some other countries) but
with “teeth”.

The failure to establish the IPCMC will itself be a most adverse
reflection on the establishment of the Royal Police Commission and the
delivery of Abdullah’s reform pledge and programme.

The Royal Police Commission is a feather-in-the-cap for Abdullah, proof of
his political resolve to “walk the talk” to effect reform. It would be
most unfortunate and tragic if the Royal Police Commission ends up as the
symbol of the failure of his reforms, because of the police success in
hijacking the policy-making powers on the issue by “turning over” the
support the group of vocal UMNO MPs.

– Lim Kit Siang – http://limkitsiang.com – http://blog.limkitsiang.com