comment It is indeed commendable to note that the police had implemented 94 percent of the recommendations of the Royal Police Commission over the last five years since the report was released in April 2005.

It is clear that in a number of areas the changes and improvement in performance is visible and well documented.

This is especially so in the strategies adopted in reducing crime (Recommendation 13), which was also identified as one the six National Key Result Areas by the prime minister in 2009.

In addition the efforts by police in strengthening community policing (Recommendation 16) through visible street patrols of the police and greater engagement with neighborhood and business communities (Recommendation 17) is in the right direction.

police brutality sinister corruption secretsMost obvious is the tremendous increase in public funding for infrastructure, equipment and improved salary packages for the police. These initiatives have been well documented. In the commission report they are part of chapter 14 which contained 21 recommendations and chapter 15 which contained nine recommendations.

Furthermore the approval of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) in Parliament in late 2009 capture some dimensions of Recommendation 12 which is to establish an independent oversight mechanism.

While it differs from the original recommendation, nonetheless the federal government has secured Parliament's approval for its establishment.

However since then, there has been no word on this matter and therefore the federal government must take immediate steps to appoint the right people and the EAIC must become operational soon. If not there will once again be questions pertaining to the credibility of the government.

More data needed

However both police and the Home Ministry have not given the public adequate information on how they have implemented 118 recommendations and an assessment of the progress made.

This transparency of data, analysis and information is most critical in restoring public confidence that the recommendations have been followed. It is also important to be open about the achievements and challenges faced rather than just making statements of fact without providing substantive details.

They police can make public the progress made since April 2005 with concrete data and examples. A detailed report is essential to enhance the professional image of police.

Furthermore former members of the Police Commission, members of the Human Rights commission and other bodies like the Bar Council and Suaram could be invited for a dialogue.

The ultimate objective of this exercise is to enhance the police through this engagement with more independent critics of police. This report must be tabled in Parliament as well as made available to the general public.

Closer look

Looking through the 125 of the Royal Police Commission recommendations, a number are most critical for review.

For example Recommendation 8 calls on the police to ensure that it devote its focus on core functions. In what way has this changed over the past five years? Is there a difference?

malaysia parliament parlimenIn chapter 10 of the report there was much discussion pertaining to death in police custody. The report indicated that between 2000 and 2004 there were 80 deaths in custody. Recently on April 14, this year, the Home Ministry released in Parliament that between 2005 to early 2010 there were 66 deaths in Police custody.

While there is a reduction, however there is still an average of 13.2 deaths a year. What steps have been adopted to really address this major area of public concern?

Another area of interest pertains to enhancing investigative policing especially in terms of more police being deployed for this role and also establishing multi-disciplinary and multi-agency investigative teams (Recommendation 42).

Significant also is making greater use of scientific and technical aids for investigation (Recommendation 40).

How has police enhanced these and reduced reliance in the use of preventive legislation such as the Emergency Ordinance (Recommendation 61)?

Another area where release of data will be helpful are matters pertaining to Recommendation 81 which is enhancing ethnic representation in the police. In the commission report there is data of this matter, however over the past five years what comparative data can we note?

Has there been a real increase and change? What initiatives has the police taken to address these concerns on recruitment and promotions in order to be better reflective of '1Malaysia'?

Let me conclude with two immediate suggestions for the consideration of the federal government.

The first is an independent review of the implementation of the recommendations over the past five years since the commission report was released be undertaken.

It must document the achievements made and challenges encountered by police over the past five years in implementing the recommendations of the Royal Police Commission.

It will be good to invite former commission members to read and make comments on the report which will definitely enhance the credibility of the findings.

The second is for the minister of home affairs to expeditiously establish the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

A year has almost passed since the enactment of this by Parliament. Any further delay will result in confirmation of the government's inaction.

However speedy establishment will enhance the image of the federal government, police and other enforcement agencies.

It will further demonstrate that the current federal government is committed to fundamental principle based on good governance, transparency, accountability and compliance to human rights standards.

 

DR DENISON JAYASOORIA was member of the Royal Police Commission. He currently serves in the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (till April 23, 2010) and is a Principal Research fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, UKM. Views expressed in this article are his personal views.