KUALA LUMPUR: On the eve of handing over his duty to the new Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun voiced his objection to handing over the power to take disciplinary action against its personnel to the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Mohamad Fuzi, who retires tomorrow, said serving and retired personnel were against the move.

“We have about 130,000 serving and 150,000 retired personnel who have roundly objected to the matter.“The IPCMC wants to take over the power of the Police Commission under Article 140 of the Federal Constitution on issues regarding disciplinary action and investigations.“We will register our opposition and have written a letter to the government leadership,” he told reporters after launching the PDRM Mess Book in Bukit Aman yesterday.

He said a committee, comprising senior officers and rank and file personnel, held a meeting and had decided to meet the Prime Minister to express their opposition.

The police resistance comes amid rising criticism of police conduct in the public hearing by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on human trafficking and mass graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis, and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suha­kam) findings on the enforced disappearances of Pas­tor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.It was reported last November that the police were ready to accept the setting up of the IPCMC, but with some conditions.

Mohamad Fuzi said the setting up of the panel to replace the Enforce­ment Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) was the government’s wish.

He was quoted as saying it could not be avoided, but they were having discussions to ensure that the welfare of the force was considered, including the condition of having a police officer in the commission.Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced last Septem­ber that the IPCMC would replace the EAIC and act as an independent body to look into police complaints more holistically.

The EAIC is a federal statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, under Section 3 of

the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009 (Act 700) which was gazetted on Sept 3, 2009.

This Act replaced the IPCMC Bill 2005. It was created in line with the government’s aim to enhance integrity among enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies.

Senior Police Officers Association president Senior Asst Comm Sulaiman Yahaya said the main contention was the IPCMC taking over disciplinary powers.

“What is the point of having the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department? We are opposing this as the IPCMC is an outside body.

“They may not have all the necessary information before acting against our personnel,” he said, adding that they would accept the IPCMC if its role was to monitor and suggest improvements to the police force.