Amid renewed calls for the setting-up of an independent oversight body for the police force, Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) chief Yaakob Md Sam said it would be "more practical" for its own operations to be strengthened.

Speaking at a Bar Council roundtable session in Kuala Lumpur today, Yaacob said the EAIC had recently completed its restructuring exercise and has set up a dedicated team to handle complaints against the police force.

"I feel that the EAIC is a more proper platform for us to move forward, compared to setting up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

"I am not saying it (IPCMC) is not a good proposal, but I am looking at it from a more practical point of view," said Yaacob in reference to the government's ongoing austerity drive.

Under Budget 2016 tabled last year, the EAIC saw its operating budget slashed to under RM5 million, down from about RM8 million in 2015.

The EAIC is currently overseeing 19 enforcement agencies, including the police.

Speaking to reporters later, Yaacob said the new team set up in December last year, with 16 dedicated officers, have been tasked to specifically handle all complaints related to the police.

"The IPCMC is a good move but the government have decided to set up EAIC.

"This is why I say the EAIC should be empowered to make it more effective," he said.

Responding to concerns that EAIC's recommendations have largely gone unneeded, Yaacob said the agencies named are compelled by law to acknowledge receipt of any report within two weeks.

"After a report has been received, the agencies must come back to us (EAIC) within 14 days and state actions that would be taken (based on the recommendations).

"If it was decided that no action will be taken, they must provide us with a specific reason," he explained.

Such action, Yaacob said, can either be in the form of internal disciplinary actions or a criminal charge by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

"That is why we (EAIC) report to the Parliament. If they (the agencies) don't follow the law, then Parliament should censure them," he insisted when quizzed further.

Yaacob also said that proposed amendments to EAIC Act 2009 is now being finalised by the AGC, among others, to give all agencies under its purview 90 days to fully comply with recommendations made in any report against it.

Questioned delays in police investigation

Earlier, Yaacob had raised questions over alleged delays in police investigations on a 2014 custodial death case, despite the EAIC recommendations being made in October last year.

Syed Mohd Azlan Syed Mohamed Nur reportedly died while in police custody in Pengerang, Johor, on November 3, 2014, and the EAIC in its report attributed police violence to be the cause of death.

“From what we know, as of two weeks ago when we checked, the police are yet to complete the investigation papers to be sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers,” Yaacob said.

“I want to ask why and what part of the report not completed yet."

The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in its recent report on death in custody cases had stated that Syed Azlan case was one out of four cases unaccounted for in police statistics of death in custody over the last 15 years.