KUALA LUMPUR – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has called on the government to review the process of appointing the inspector-general of police (IGP) to protect and heighten public confidence in the office-bearer’s ability to carry out duties with integrity, impartiality and fairness.
The civil rights and electoral reform movement said this in expressing concern over Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin’s recorded conversation with an unknown individual to discuss the candidate for the IGP position.
Hamzah had today admitted that it was him in the recently-leaked audio recording of a discussion on outgoing IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s successor. He stressed that he did not do anything illegal.
This was followed by an impassioned press conference by Hamid, where he hit out at Hamzah over the interference. He also claimed that Hamzah had pushed to determine where police officers would be placed.
“The discussion that was leaked on social media and was admitted by Hamzah himself, among others, mentioned that they need to appoint ‘our boy’ to be the IGP,” Bersih 2.0 said in a statement today.
“This is very concerning as the decision should be made by the Police Force Commission based on objective criteria and not whether the person is ‘our boy’ as the IGP must carry out his duties professionally and not taking sides with any party.”
It added that the commission chaired by Hamzah must make public the criteria used to appoint the IGP in order for the public to evaluate the appointment.
To ensure a more transparent and accountable appointment process, it recommended that the commission forms an advisory assessment panel that would nominate three candidates.
The commission would then select a candidate and submit his name to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for approval. Upon confirmation by the PSC, the commission can then present the selected candidate to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Bersih 2.0 noted the current IGP appointment process is stated in Article 140 of the Federal Constitution where the commission, chaired by a federal minister, nominates an IGP to be appointed by the Agong.
The process before the name is submitted to the King should be reformed to enhance transparency and integrity, it stressed.
“The process of appointing key government officials such as the inspector-general of police is very important and must go through Parliament so that the appointment is truly transparent, accountable, based on merit and not based on the decision of the federal minister alone,” it said.
Bersih 2.0 also proposed that the government to enact a “Public Appointments and Removal Bill 2021” so that processes of appointment and dismissal of key public officers can be scrutinised by the people to improve the current appointment process.
“The involvement of Parliament is also important in such an appointment process, as the role of Parliament should not be limited to law-making only.”
Bersih 2.0 also expressed hope that the new IGP, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah, will be able to carry out his duties without fear or favour, and truly uphold justice and welfare of the people.
Earlier today, Hamzah had announced Acryl Sani’s promotion from his earlier position as deputy IGP. – The Vibes, April 30, 2021
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