KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Former police chief Tan Sri Musa Hassan has suggested that the police set up a court to hear disciplinary cases, just like the military that has its own court.

Malay language daily Berita Harian reported today that the ex-Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said a police court should be set up because the police are also part of the security forces that require discipline, direction and execution of tasks that differ from other government agencies.

“Prior to the amendment of the Police Act 2004, police have procedure preparation rooms similar to that of the court where criminal cases and disciplinary cases for low-ranking police are heard by an assigned police officer,” Musa was quoted saying.

Current IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed with the daily that criminal and disciplinary cases involving police officers presently go through the civil courts as there is no tribunal to hear those cases.

Following a string of death in custody cases, there has been a growing call for the government

to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Bukit Aman and the Home Ministry, however, have persistently rejected calls to introduce the IPCMC as mooted in 2006 by a royal commission led by former Chief Justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, arguing that an oversight committee with such powers as proposed were “unconstitutional” and would seriously restrict the police in carrying out its duties.