Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has repeated his call to the government to implement the recommendations of the IPCMC, now that civil servants have received a large pay hike.

He said Inspector General of the Police Musa Hassan should publicly support the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill.

"With 18 to 24 percent police salary increases, the IGP should support IPCMC to demonstrate commitment to have a world-class police service, whether in reducing crime, professionalism, accountability or integrity," said Lim in a statement today.

The veteran politician said he has given his full support for the "generous increase" in police pay as "Malaysians want to have a world-class police service".

"The reaction of IGP Musa Hassan to the "generous pay increase" has been quite euphoric, as illustrated by the headlines: 'IGP: No more bribes, no more excuses' ( The Sun ), 'IGP: No excuse for cops to take bribes now' ( Star ) and 'Musa: No leeway for corrupt cops' ( New Straits Times )."

"Although the expression of Musa's euphoric reaction is quite deplorable, as it is self-exculpatory in justifying the erstwhile police notoriety as one of the most corrupt government departments," he said.

"Let's not quibble over the past but look forward to a clean, new and corruption-free future for the police service from now," said Lim.

More unsafe today

He said many pledges to improve the police service proved to be "mirages." He said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi "has forgotten" that one of his top priorities was to reduce crime.

"Today, Malaysians feel even more unsafe from crime than when Abdullah became prime minister," said Lim.

He said the prime minister has not lived up to expectations when many of 125 recommendations made by the Royal Police Commission were ignored.

"The Royal Police Commission recommendations quickly became a "lame-duck" report when the most important recommendation, the establishment of IPCMC, became a "political football" with the police lobby successfully arm-twisting Umno MPs and got it dispatched to cold-storage at the Attorney-General's Chambers when the IPCMC should have been set up and operational more than a year ago!"

He said with the pay hike, Musa should "provide leadership" and "end his ambivalent and non-commital attitude" towards the IPCMC.

The veteran oppositionist said Musa should support the IPCMC Bill to be presented to Parliament for debate and passage next month.

"In the next three weeks till the resumption of Parliament on June 18, opinion leaders, NGOs and the civil society should make their concerns and demands heard loud and clear for the immediate establishment of the IPCMC," said Lim.