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Abdullah should consult with Opposition parties and the civil society on the powers, terms of reference and composition of the Police Royal Commission Media Statement  by Lim Kit Siang (Penang,  Saturday): The new Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Sedek Mohamed Ali said yesterday that the proposed Police Royal Commission is in the final stage of being established by the Home Ministry and that the police would give the Royal Commission full co-operation. (Sin Chew) The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who announced the Police Royal Commission some three weeks ago, has yet to consult Opposition parties and the civil society, as proper consultation with all political parties, professional organizations, NGOs and the civil society is  essential and even critical if the police royal commission is to  command unquestioned public confidence from the very start, particularly on two important issues: the appointment of commissioners who are  independent, credible and reputable personalities of integrity; and comprehensive and all-encompassing  powers, scope and terms of reference to ensure that Malaysia has a world-class police service to reduce crime, the fear of crime and an ever-improving Public Safety Index. The latest police report lodged against indiscriminate police shooting and killing by a  20-year-old pregnant widow, C. Jaya Malar that her husband, N. Nagendran, 23, was shot dead when the driver of the lorry he was traveling in with four others had ignored orders to stop on January 13 in Pandan Indah has highlighted the importance and urgency  that the  police royal commission should have untrammeled powers to inquire into  all complaints and allegations about police misconduct and abuses of power, including police brutality and  indiscriminate police shootings, for the past 10 years. In establishing the police royal commission, Abdullah should heed concerns that the police should not be allowed to have the biggest say to hijack its terms of reference into focusing primarily on acute manpower shortages and distracting it from the priority agendas to restore public confidence in a world-class quality police service to reduce the double rise in crime rate and the fear of crime and to eradicate police corruption and misconduct. This is why it is important that Abdullah should consult with opposition parties and the civil society on the terms of reference, scope, powers and composition of the police royal commission. (17/1/2004) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman