KUALA LUMPUR: There should be no more delays by the government in passing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission 2019 (IPCMC) Bill said Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (pic).
“I don’t buy the government’s explanation that more time is needed because enough work has been done on it. So, enough with the excuses,” she told reporters at the sideline of the Humans Rights Day Celebrations on Tuesday (Dec 10).
She also asked the government to reveal if there was resistance to the Bill from Pakatan Harapan backbencher MPs.
“I heard that MPs from Pakatan itself that are objecting to the IPCMC and this is why there are delays. I would like to know what is their objections,” added the human rights activist.
Ambiga noted the delay in passing of the IPCMC was another of Pakatan’s unfulfilled promises of reforms such as abolishing draconian laws.
“No more delays because right now no one believes them as there are all these adjournments. No one believes what they are telling us because their credibility is so shot right now,” the former Bar Council president said.
She cited the abolishment of the Sedition Act and Security Offence (Special Measures) Act as examples of Pakatan’s unfulfilled reforms.
The IPCMC was tabled for its first reading in Dewan Rakyat in July this year, and
the Bill came up for second reading in October with both Pakatan and opposition lawmakers debating on it.
However, no voting was taken on the Bill following debates and it was instead referred to the Parliament’s Special Select Committee on Bills Consideration.
There are a total of 37 changes recommended to the Bill by the government and special committee.
The Bill was expected to have been passed on the last day of Dewan Rakyat sitting last Thursday (Dec 5).
However, the final reading of the Bill was deferred to Dewan Rakyat’s next meeting in March next year. -The Star