Teresa Kok

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