Trigger-happy cops: Bar Council calls for transparent, effective measures
The Malaysian Bar Council today urged the government and the police to establish transparent and effective measures to deal with police shootings which had resulted in many deaths.
Concerned with the prevalence and manner in which police officers discharged their firearms, its chairperson Mah Weng Kwai said in a press statement that the council was calling for "more exacting standards" to be employed.
He said while the council recognised the role of the police force to maintain law and order; and that they be permitted to exercise their powers in the process, this does not mean police officers are not accountable for their actions.
In this respect, he said the council "respectfully differs" with the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision in October which validated the use of firearms by police officers in questionable circumstances.
In the case, High Court Judge S Augustine Paul acquitted police constable Tony anak Beliang for causing the death of a doctor in Cheras on Sept 20, 1999.
Session court judge Ahmadi Asnawi had previously convicted the policeman and sentenced him to eight years in jail.
The judge further stressed that Tony's action gave the impression that the police were "trigger happy".
However, Paul set aside the conviction and sentence after ruling that the shots were fired under a "life threatening situation".
Concerned with the prevalence and manner in which police officers discharged their firearms, its chairperson Mah Weng Kwai said in a press statement that the council was calling for "more exacting standards" to be employed.
He said while the council recognised the role of the police force to maintain law and order; and that they be permitted to exercise their powers in the process, this does not mean police officers are not accountable for their actions.
In this respect, he said the council "respectfully differs" with the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision in October which validated the use of firearms by police officers in questionable circumstances.
In the case, High Court Judge S Augustine Paul acquitted police constable Tony anak Beliang for causing the death of a doctor in Cheras on Sept 20, 1999.
Session court judge Ahmadi Asnawi had previously convicted the policeman and sentenced him to eight years in jail.
The judge further stressed that Tony's action gave the impression that the police were "trigger happy".
However, Paul set aside the conviction and sentence after ruling that the shots were fired under a "life threatening situation".
Not acceptable
Mah said while police officers and lay persons were entitled to react in self-defence, the former however were trained to use firearms effectively and deal with the risks that come with their duty.
"Shooting to kill by the police cannot be treated as being an acceptable way to deal with those risks," he said.
The council chairperson also noted that the high court's decision had effectively validated the use of extreme force by police officers in questionable circumstances when more accountability was required of them.
According to protem political party Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim) an average of 1.3 persons were shot dead by the police every week.
Prim had submitted a memorandum on the matter to the Home Ministry and the National Unity and Social Development Ministry in November.
