[ Index ]
 

Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the first meeting of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the police tomorrow. 10.2.2004.

We have seen commissions of inquiry on the police in other countries. Now, the Malaysian Government has set up a Royal Commission to investigate the problems in the force and the ways to overcome them, so that it will be efficient and credible.

The Government should consider making the inquiry public such as putting the whole proceedings on television.

There are dedicated police personnel. But, just as in other countries, there are complaints about the police like shortage of personnel and corruption. The Prime Minister's Department announced the setting up of the 16-member Royal Commission on 4 February, 2004. The following day, its chairman Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah fixed the first meeting on 11 February, 2004.

We hope that the Commission's report in a year's time will be helpful in making the police force world-class, including its efficiency and credibility. Meanwhile, the Government appoints 16 members to make the Commission look dignified and bipartisan. For example, Pas Executive Councilor Tun Salleh Abas is on one side, Transparency International Malaysia president Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Ibrahim in the middle and Umno legal adviser Tan Sri Zaki Azmi on the other side. The appointee with a deep knowledge of the police is the former Inspector-General of Police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar.

We look forward to the Commission secretary Datuk Hamzah Md Rus assisting all members especially Tun Hanif to pore through the major problems of the police. Other members should help give the commission's findings commanding credibility.

Lim Kit Siang maintains that it should be an open inquiry. He has a basis. We suggest that the first and subsequent meetings of the Commission should be free for the media. The Government should consider televising its proceedings as a way of achieving commanding credibility.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw