Our new government is definitely fulfilling its promise to ensure the country is clean and free from corruption!
FMT reported that Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin made an announcement that they will be setting up an independent commission in order to monitor police misconducts (if it occurs). This will enable the rakyat to lodge complaints against the police force if necessary.
He added that he intends to take essential steps to “restore the image of the force” so they could win back Malaysians’ trust and confidence.
Muhyiddin made this statement during a press conference after reporting for duty yesterday (22 May 2018) at the Home Ministry, after being sworn in alongside 12 Cabinet ministers before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Negara on 21 May 2018.
Before this, back in 2005, the Royal Commission of Inquiry had suggested establishing an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) but the fifth prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suspended the proposal due to rejection from the police force and other parties.
As compensation for IPCMC, the then-government decided to set up the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) but it was proven useless because it needs to “respond to complaints from 18 different government agencies and departments” and it doesn’t have any power to prosecute the guilty ones.
Besides that, Muhyiddin also wants to re-evaluate several “unnecessary or inappropriate” laws as promised in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto. Amongst the legislation that will be reviewed are:
- Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984
- Sedition Act 1948
- Prevention of Crime Act 1959
- Mandatory Death Sentence
- Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma)
- Peaceful Assembly Act 2012
- Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015
“We will look into these laws and evaluate if there is a need to review or abolish them,” said Muhyiddin.
Not only that, he assured that priority will be given to reduce “bureaucratic red tape” that delays the registration of citizens, specifically in rural areas.
“This will reduce the problems faced, especially by stateless Indians, who still have only red identification cards.”
“Our focus will include those in Sarawak and Sabah. We will conduct an in-depth study to solve citizenship problems,” he explained.
Other than that, Muhyiddin commented that he will also focus on lowering the crime rate and will work on the prevention of drug abuse.
However, when he was asked about the Home Ministry’s stand on the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), he simply said that there will “no change in its operations”.
“Esscom is important as there is still a threat to the country. We will continue with surveillance. So long as we feel that it isn’t safe enough, the curfew implemented will continue,” he added.
Therefore, aspiring to make Malaysia a safe country like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, Muhyiddin added,
“We can emulate the measures taken by these countries, even though the state of our nation is different from theirs.”
“But I hope that one day, we will be able to achieve a status where Malaysia will be a nation free from the fear of being harassed or harmed when we move around.”
At last, Muhyiddin concluded that these issues which he spoke about earlier will be proposed to the Cabinet during their possible meeting on Wednesday (23 May 2018).
All in all, the prospects are looking good for the Home Ministry! Let’s hope that Muhyiddin will accomplish whatever he promised to the rakyat.
Good luck, DS Muhyiddin!
Also read: Taiwanese Celebrity Reveals How Corrupt M’sian Policemen Are on Popular TV Show