IPCMC bill has plenty of teeth, Liew tells NGO

IPCMC bill has plenty of teeth, Liew tells NGO

The minister says the oversight body will have investigative powers under the Criminal Procedure Code which will make it 'just as good as the police'.

De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong at the Parliament lobby today.
KUALA LUMPUR:
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong today defended the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill from criticism by an NGO which labelled it as toothless, saying the body would have investigative powers under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

“What do they mean by ‘toothless’, I want to know,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

“It has CPC power to investigate a matter, which is as good as any investigating body and just as good as the police.”

He was responding to Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances or CAGED, which urged MPs on Saturday to return the bill for more drafting.

CAGED said the bill fell short of the one proposed in 2005 as it was modelled after the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, which even Putrajaya had agreed was a failed institution.

Liew said the NGO should not label the bill as toothless without proper knowledge or information.

“It is probably (the only one) in this region that will be able to conduct investigations into the conduct of the police,” he added.

The IPCMC bill was tabled for second reading at the Dewan Rakyat today, where 30 MPs are debating the issue.

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