cheahsoonhai

erakan disagrees with re-enactment of preventive laws to empower police

Cheah Soon Hai: EAIC has to be more transparent to regain people's trust

 
 

Press statement by

Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman

Dr Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

12 July 2013

 
 

Regarding the recent statement made by the IGP, Tan Sri Abu Khalid Bakar saying that the Cabinet should review and amend a suitable preventative law to replace the abolished Emergency Ordinance (EO) in order to provide more power to the police to conduct their investigation, Gerakan Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life Chairman, Dr Cheah Soon Hai voiced his disagreement over the suggestion as he maintained that existing laws under the Penal Code are adequate in addressing the recent spike in crime rate.

 
 

He opined that most of the crimes committed are misdemeanors or petty crimes such as street crimes and snatch thefts that do not post an immediate threat to the public order. Therefore, there is no need for the re-enactment of preventive laws similar to the repealed EO. Instead, he urged the police to buck up on their performance and use the clearance rate in crime-solving as the yardstick for promotion.

 
 

Dr Cheah said that the Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the IPCMC is playing the same role as the current EAIC and rejected the set up of the IPCMC. But the general public appeared unfamiliar with the operation procedures of the EAIC. So it is necessary for the government to inform the public about the procedures EAIC operates together with the name of its members to gain the public trust.

 
 

He pointed out that if the Home Ministry wants to stick with the existing EAIC instead of the newly proposed IPCMC, first it has to make the people understand that the functions of both organizations are the same with the only difference is that the EAIC will be in charge of scrutinizing all law enforcers in the country including the police.

 
 

"I hope that the EAIC will not only conduct internal investigations but to conduct it in open air in the view of the public to ensure transparency. Also it has to conduct its investigation independently and provide an avenue for the public to remain updated. If not, the public will not let the existing EAIC to take precedence over the mooted IPCMC