MACC says stronger police internal affairs unit will reduce corruption – Bernama

The Consultation and Prevention Panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has called on the police to strengthen its Internal Affairs Division (IAD) to combat corruption within the force.

The panel, which is chaired by Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, said although the police already had its Internal Affairs Law Enforcement Unit, to be effective it had to be enhanced with more personnel and given enough power and support.

In a statement, the panel said the IAD could play a critical role to monitor and investigate plausible suspicions of law breaking and professional misconduct, including corruption within the police.

The panel also welcomed the statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi that his ministry would go the "New York Way" in fighting corruption.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) had made commendable efforts to clean up its image over the years, the statement said.

The panel concurred that the New York Way was the way forward for the police to weed out bad hats within the system.

The statement further said the panel and MACC were ever willing to share some of the initiatives to combat corruption with the police force.

It suggested, among other things, the "adopt-a-department" programme (Program Jabatan Angkat) to identify "problem areas" within the law enforcement agencies.

"The idea is to nurture good values, good governance and good practices in 'problematic' units of law enforcement outfits or agencies. The programme will involve supervision, counselling and help from MACC," the statement said. – Bernama, September 30, 2014.