No progress has been made on setting up the proposed independent police watchdog, three months after the expiry of the deadline set by the Royal Police Commission.

"The Attorney-General's Chambers are still in the final stage of studying the proposal," Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Johari reiterated that the government has endorsed, in principle, the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

However, he said the form of any such watchdog will rely on the findings of the AG's Chambers.

He was responding to a question by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) during the Question session as to whether the government intends to table the IPCMC bill during the current sitting up to December.

During the last Parliament session in June, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given the same reply.

Abdullah, who is also internal security minister, oversees the police force because it was seen as riddled with corruption and brutality.

The royal commission recommended the formation of the IPCMC in May last year, when it unveiled 125 recommendations to improve the management and operations of the police force.

The commission had given the government a year to set up the independent body. The proposal was initially opposed by the police force and some Umno backbenchers.

'KL is safe'

Lim, in his supplementary question, reiterated that the royal commission was set up because of widespread concern about the high incidence of crime as well as perception of corruption among police personnel.

He urged that the IPCMC be set up as soon as possible, citing the recent killing of a student in Setapak and a salesperson in Kuantan during snatch thefts as further evidence of the need for urgency.

Johari, however brushed aside the question.

"I think it is safe for us to go anywhere in Kuala Lumpur nowadays at 3am, 4am, no problem," said the deputy minister, adding that the opposition "need not to be too worried" about incidents of crime.

In a press statement later, Lim criticised Johari's answer as "glib and irresponsible" and as having swept aside the IPCMC issue by thanking the police instead.

Lim also quoted former Inspector-General of Police Hanif Omar, who has said he carries a shotgun to protect himself whenever he drives out of his house in Kuala Lumpur.

The veteran politician said he was disappointed that Abdullah was not present in Parliament today to answer the question on the IPCMC.

"Is this a reflection of the plunge in the priority of the IPCMC and police reforms in the agenda of the prime minister?" asked Lim.