PM Anwar says police probe into three men shot dead in Melaka was thorough, transparent with no bias.
PETALING JAYA: Investigations into the deaths of three individuals who were shot dead by the police in Melaka were conducted thoroughly and without compromise, with the report submitted to the Attorney General today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the probe was carried out transparently, adding that he had received assurances from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director that no element of bias or cover-up was involved in the investigation.
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“That is why I wish to clarify that in any cases where there may have been excesses in police actions, thorough investigations are always carried out.
“While any form of police misconduct must not be ignored and should be dealt with firmly, it must be clearly distinguished from the violent actions of hardened criminals who pose serious threats to public safety,” he addressed the Dewan Negara, today.
Anwar cited several recent incidents involving attacks on law enforcement officers, including a case in Perak where a police officer was shot after being stabbed, and another in Kedah where an officer was rammed to death while responding to a house break-in report.
He also referred to a recent incident in Batu Caves four days ago, where an individual charged under Section 326 for ramming a police officer was later granted bail.
“This is why we demand that the police carry out their duties carefully and strictly in accordance with the law, but at the same time, we must not give the impression that we are weak or overly tolerant towards hardened criminals roaming freely,” he said.
Anwar highlighted such offenders represent only a very small segment of the population, adding that with Malaysia’s population standing at 34.5 million, hardened criminals account for less than 0.5% of society.
He said oversight mechanisms such as the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) and the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) were established to ensure accountability within enforcement agencies, and to provide avenues for further recourse should there be dissatisfaction with the outcome of investigations.
