KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has refered the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee after its second reading.
The motion, which was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, was also debated by 30 members of parliament from both sides of the political divide.
The motion to refer the bill to the committee was approved by Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
During the debate, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (BN-Padang Terap) asked Liew what was the point of debating the bill when it would eventually be referred to the committee.
In response, Liew said the session was held so that MPs would have the opportunity to express their views on the matter.
“If the bill is brought to the Special Election Committee, only a few representatives and members of the committee can voice their opinions but today, the MPs are able to debate their concerns.
This is the transparency that the government wants to bring today,” he said.
The decision to refer the IPCMC bill to the special select committee was so that the committee could look further into its details and the proposed amendments to improve the bill.
Earlier several MPs, including former home minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (BN-Sembrong), said the second reading of the bill should be postponed.
Speaking to reporters at the parliament lobby, Hishammuddin said this was a matter concerning the police and as such, it should not be taken lightly.
He also said there was something “not right” about the formation of the police oversight body and that it must be properly implemented.