IPCMC Memo
Nov 15th, 2006 by Tian
About 100 activists gathered at Putrajaya today (14 Novemebr) to hand over a memorandum to the PM Office. The action coordinated by Bar Council was part of the campaign to pressure the government to set up the long delayed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
Police reform is an overdued promise by the PM. It was not only an election pledge (we know many election pledges not fulfilled), but it is a question of basic security of all individuals living on this land.
The memorandum was signed by over 300 organizations. This morning the gathering was attended by activists and representatives from a cross section of people.
In front of the PM Office, we held banners calling for the implementation of IPCMC. A delegation led by Yeo Yang Poh, Bar Council President went into the reception area. As usual the guards got panic and took half an hour before any officer from the PM Department attending to our request. Finally some one called Haji Ahmad Yakob came down to receive our memo. Haji Ahmad was introduced as the Setiausaha Sulit Kanan of the PM, not too sure what this pangkat meant. We asked him several questions and stated our purpose of visit, his replies were not more than no comment. Anyhow, he claimed that the reason for the delay was due to the need for careful consideration. Now the proposal is with the AG, and the PM is waiting for study by the AG.
How odd, the IPCMC was a recommendation by government appointed Royal Police Commission. It was a group entrusted by the government to study how to reform the police force. Now PM wants the AG to study its proposal again?
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I hate going to Putrajaya. It is so damn far. No way to get there without car. In the morning I picked up Hafiiz and a new journalist Shafiq from Suara Keadilan from Kelana Jaya LRT station. Rozan, a member of Batu Angkatan Muda took leave from work today to join the protest.
Actually it is not only a question of distance. Putrajaya is a city (if one can call that) of no life. It is totally cut off from the rest of the country. The isolation and seclusion of civil servants and politicians in Putrajaya make them even more uncaring about the rest of the nation.
One strange feature shared by all buildings in Putrajaya is that the shortage of parking space. Since people can only get there by cars, it would be impossible for more than a few hundreds people to stage a gathering in Putrajaya. I discussed this with Yeo Yang Poh, who was equally puzzled with the poor design for public access in Putrajaya. We believed no qualified architect would come out with such flawed plans. We concluded that these buildings were designed not by architects but interior designers.
Putrajaya is not yet in full utilization. The car parks are already too packed, not even enough for staff. There is really no extra space for members of public. Putrajaya is a curse left behind by Dr M!
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| Sivarasa MCing the rally out the PM Office |
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| We call on PM to act now! |
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| Yeo Yong Poh hands over memo |