PKR opens fire on Zahid over 'instigation to murder'

It appears that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has shot himself in the foot with his admission that it is better to gun down suspected criminals without warning.

Apart from accusing the home minister of instigating the police to commit murder, PKR vice-president N Surendran also urged that all previous cases of fatal shootings involving the police be re-opened and the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI).

"Shooting to kill suspects without warning amounts to murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Zahid and the police top brass may now be guilty of abetment and criminal conspiracy to commit murder or culpable homicide; the offences of criminal conspiracy and abetment are punishable under Sections 120A and 107 of the Penal Code.

"In short, the minister is instigating the police to concert and plan criminal acts, with the endorsement of the Home Ministry," added the Padang Serai MP in a statement.

The lawyer-turned-politician said the shooting to kill of suspects without warning was also in complete breach of Malaysia's obligations under international law.

"The Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly states that use of firearms is an 'extreme measure' and should not be resorted to unless the suspected offender 'jeopardises the lives of others'.

"Instead of adhering to this internationally approved code of conduct, Zahid is inciting the police to be trigger-happy when confronting suspects," he added.

Surendran was responding to Zahid's remarks made at a security briefing in Malacca on Friday, which was exposed by Malaysiakini.

Probe Zahid's statement
This unprecedented admission by the home minister, said the PKR leader, came as a shock to the nation.

"It is nothing short of ministerial endorsement of extra-judicial killings by the police; it is incitement and approval of cold-blooded murder by the police force.

"Zahid's statement gives new foundation to the opposition and civil society's long-standing complaint that the police have been shooting to kill in many cases," he added.

Surendran said that all Malaysians were put in grave danger by this unlawful "shoot-to-kill" method of law enforcement.

"In light of Zahid's statement, all previous cases of fatal shootings by police must be re-opened.

"In view of the seriousness of the matter, which involves the lives of ordinary Malaysians, we call for the immediate formation of a RCI," he added.

Apart from this, Surendran also demanded an independent and urgent police investigation into Zahid's statement, which was in clear breach of the law.