The IPCC became the PDRM independent balance sheet review mechanism

KUCHING, 23 Sept: The establishment of the Police Compliance-Free Commission (IPCC) provides an independent review and balancing mechanism in addressing issues of integrity of the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM), including receiving and investigating public complaints without police intervention.

Deputy IPCC Chair Martina @ Kartina Zamhari said that the commission operates independently from the PDRM structure to ensure there is a transparent check and balance mechanism in addressing the integrity issues of the security teams concerned.

He explained that the establishment of the IPCC under the Police Code Free Commission Act 2022 (Act 839) which came into operation on 1 November 2023, gave the commission a special mandate to receive and investigate public complaints independently.

"So far, the IPCC has recorded about 1,700 public complaints covering a range of issues including abuse of power, use of violence, negligence on duty, as well as allegations of corruption and intimidation.

"Of that total, 14 to 16 per cent were face-to-face complaints, including complainants willing to fly from as far away as Tawau to our office in Putrajaya for information", he said on TVS's recent Dialog programme.

Martina said that while the PDRM has a Department of Integrity and Standards Compliance (JIPS) for internal controls, the IPCC acts as a federal regulatory body which reports its findings directly to Parliament every year.

According to him, each investigation is carried out objectively by the Commission's own Investigative Officer (IO) without police intervention, involving all levels of membership from low rank to highest officer.

The findings of the fact-finding investigation will be formulated through the LDS Investigative Disclosure Report (LDS) which contains disciplinary action scores according to case severity, such as warnings, fines, emolument rights abuses, stiff wage movements, dismissals or layoffs.

"Our message is clear to all PDRM citizens that strict action will be recommended against those found guilty.

"But at the same time, records show that the majority of police officers are actually on duty with full dedication, and misconduct cases involve only a small percentage - about three percent", he said.

Martina, meanwhile, stressed that the IPCC's role is not focused solely on misconduct investigations, instead Section 4 of Act 839 also places a responsibility on the commission to advise the government on the welfare of PDRM citizens.

Through a series of sessions in various police formations across the country, the IPCC found that some halls, residential quarters, and transportation logistics were still in poor condition and required extensive maintenance allocations.

"In some areas, police officers are faced with restrictions on outdated facilities and equipment.

"Through the existing powers, we are collecting data and information to be disseminated to the authorities and State Police Commissioners so that follow-up actions and improvement allocations can be disseminated for the benefit of members", he added.

He added that the public with full information on malpractice or infrastructure issues of local police stations can submit an official complaint through the i-SPIKS portal or attend directly to the IPCC office, guaranteeing that any fact-based complaint will be thoroughly investigated.