website:
http://gbm.org.my
Media Statement For
Immediate Release
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) Calls for Immediate Implementation
of IPCMC
4 June, 2013
These days Malaysians go to bed with the shocking news of a
custodial death only to wake the next morning to learn of another death in
police custody. The custodians of law and order must take full responsibility
for these custodial deaths.
From January 14 to June 1, 2013, eight custodial deaths have
been reported. According to the chief of the police force these are apparently
"unfortunate". Referring to the latest death in IPD Tampin, the IGP
Khalid Abu Bakar had reportedly said in a text-message to The Malay Mail, “It's just unfortunate that he died in our lock-up."
In this connection, the Minister of Home Affairs had earlier
said that he had to be careful about taking action against the police in order
to ensure that it would not have any demoralising effect on the police force.
GBM regards both these statements as unbecoming of leaders
who are duty bound to protect the people of this country and condemn them for
being insensitive and indifferent towards the preservation of precious lives.
GBM notes with utter disgust that the wanton cruelty of the
police personnel towards their victims has been so prominent all these years
that a Royal Commission had to be set up in 2005 which among others concluded
that deaths in the lock-ups are "a
serious cause for concern".
The Royal Commission produced 125 recommendations to clean
up the police force, the most important
being the setting up of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct
Commission (IPCMC).
Almost eight years have passed, but the government has not
shown any inclination to establish the IPCMC, which, in the opinion of GBM,
legitimises the police force to continue with its wayward ways.
GBM, an alliance of 25 NGOs, fervently believes that this
state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue and calls upon the government to
undertake the following actions without any further delays or excuses:
(1) To implement the Independent Police Complaints and
Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as proposed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry
immediately. There should be no overt or covert attempts to weaken the authority
or terms of reference of the IPCMC.
(2) To undertake speedily all the other recommendations made
by the Royal Commission of Inquiry. A schedule of implementation of the
recommendations should be prepared by the Government for adoption by
Parliament.
(3) To appoint the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) as recommended by an independent Selection
Board consisting of a representative from the Home Ministry, retired judges,
retired senior police officers, SUHAKAM commissioners, representatives of the
Bar Council and other civil society organizations. If the recommendation is not
accepted by the Home Minister, it should be automatically referred to the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs for hearing and decision
making.
(4) To decentralize the Police Force from its present
centralized authority, and to move the Federal Constitution provision relating
to the police from the Federal List to the Concurrent List. At present, the
police is exclusively emplaced within the Federal jurisdiction. This has led to
the politicization of the police. The greatest benefit from decentralizing the
police is that it allows local public feedback to be better incorporated
into police work. This tie-up will ensure more effective crime prevention, and
will definitely have a positive impact on police work.
(5)
To take immediate action to arrest and charge all police personnel involved in
the latest series of custodial deaths. Only through a swift and transparent
judicial process will it enable the police force to clear its name!
Issued
by the Executive Council of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia
Note: GBM
comprises of the following 25 civil society organisation members:
1) Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) 吉隆坡暨雪兰莪中华大会堂
2) Aliran 国民醒觉运动
3) Tamil Foundation 淡米尔基金会
4) Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM) 马来西亚回教革新理事会
5) Majlis Perundingan Malaysia Agama Buddha; Krisitian; Hindu; Sikh
dan Tao (MPMA-BKHST) 马来西亚五大宗教理事会
6) Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH) 森美兰中华大会堂
7) Penang Chinese Town Hall (PGCTH) 槟城华人大会堂
8) The Federation of Chinese Associations Johore State (FCAJ) 柔佛中华总会
9) Lim Lian Geok Cultural Development Centre (LLG) 林连玉基金
10) United Chinese School
Alumni Associations of Malaysia (UCSAAM) 马来西亚华校校友会联合会总会
11) Muslim Professionals
Forum (MPF) 穆斯林专业论坛
12) Suara Rakyat Malaysia
(SUARAM) 人民之声
13) Pusat Komunikasi
Masyarakat (KOMAS) 社区传播中心
14) Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) 马来西亚之子
15) Persatuan Masyarakat
Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas) 雪隆社区协会
16) National Indian Rights
Action Team (NIAT) 全国印裔权益行动组织
17) People’s
Green Coalition (PGC) 马来西亚人民绿色联盟
18) Anak Muda Sarawak (AMS) 砂拉越青年之子
19) All Women’s
Action Society (AWAM) 妇女行动协会
20) Partners in Community
Organising (Pacos Trust) 沙巴社区伙伴信托组织
21) Persatuan Bekas Siswazah
Universiti dan Kolej di China, Malaysia (Liu-Hua) 马来西亚留华同学会
22) Nanyang University
Alumni Malaya (Nanda) 马来亚南大校友会
23) Japan Graduates
Association, Malaysia (JAGAM) 马来西亚留日同学会
24) Gabungan Persatuan
Alumni Universiti Taiwan Malaysia (GPAUTM) 马来西亚留台校友会联合总会
25) Islamic Renaissance
Front (IRF) 回教复兴前线组织
--
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia(GBM)
Plan of Action for Malaysia (PoAM) 马来西亚行动方略联盟(行动方略联盟)
c/o The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) GBM Secretariat
Plan of Action for Malaysia (PoAM) 马来西亚行动方略联盟(行动方略联盟)
c/o The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) GBM Secretariat
Phone: 03 2272 3594/012 320 6959 Fax:03 2272 4089
Email: infogpoam@gmail.com
