When the Dewan Rakyat, after sitting for 34 days since March 13, adjourned yesterday, did it also signify the 'end' for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) proposal?

Although the government owes the public a definite answer on the thorny question, it looks quite certain now that the government will miss the May 31 deadline stipulated by the Royal Police Commission to set the IPCMC into effect.

To enable the powerful police watchdog to be set up, the government has to table and pass the draft bill of the IPCMC in Parliament. The draft bill was ready since May 16 last year when the government-backed commission released 125 recommendations to improve the police force.

The next Dewan Rakyat session will reconvene on June 26 and slated to end on July 18.

Strong objection

The IPCMC, a proposed independent agency to oversee public complaints against the police, has been touted as the most significant recommendation among the 125 recommendations in the royal commission report.

Despite being given the green light by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the IPCMC however was strongly opposed by the police force and several Umno backbenchers while the opposition and civil society groups pushed for it.

The government later revealed that it was also considering the possibility of setting up an ombudsman to monitor all enforcement agencies. Civil society groups however have reacted as saying the government should not set up the ombudsman at the expense of the IPCMC.

An advocate for the IPCMC, BN's Kota Melaka parliamentarian Wong Nai Chee when asked whether he is still optimistic that the IPCMC will be implemented as the premier has not totally turned down the idea said:

"Missing the deadline is secondary, (Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail) may takes a longer time to study, that is forgivable. We want to make changes in a holistic manner, not in a piecemeal fashion."

The lawyer-politician was among three government backbenchers who spoke in favour for the IPCMC in the last Dewan Rakyat session when his Umno counterparts strongly opposed it.

Citing the prime minister's latest statement on IPCMC on April 27 during the winding-up of the Ninth Malaysia Plan debates, Wong said: "The PM has informed us that the proposal is still in the hands of the AG."

MP disappointed

Opposition politician Chong Eng meanwhile registered her disappointment that the delay on the tabling of the IPCMC draft bill.

"This is the most important proposal. We will continue to lobby for its formation by asking people to sign the online petition organised by the Bar Council," said the DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP when met yesterday.

On the possibility of the 'death' on the proposal, she said: "It looks like it (the implementation) is facing an uphill battle," stressing the need for such a police watchdog and citing recent harassments faced by lawyers who were wrongfully detained by the police.

However, she still hoped that the IPCMC draft bill still could be tabled in the June session.

"It is better late than never," emphasised the DAP politician.