Gobind raises need for police accountability, address conflicting narratives surrounding Melaka shooting

Gobind Singh Deo welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s firm directive for a fully transparent investigation into the recent fatal shooting case in Melaka.

In a statement this evening, the Digital Minister said the instruction sends a clear and strong signal that while the police must be firm and enforce the law, the government is serious about accountability and upholding the rule of law.

“The prime minister’s commitment on this matter is crucial, particularly his emphasis to the Inspector-General of Police that no officer involved should be protected in cases where he or she is found to have acted against the law,” Gobind said.

“This resolve is fundamental to restoring public trust and strengthening the foundations of justice and accountability in the country.

“I had raised the need for police accountability and systemic reform, including addressing the conflicting narratives surrounding the Melaka shooting, during the Cabinet meeting this morning.”

In the Nov 24 incident, Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar claimed that one of his personnel had been attacked by three serial robbers with a parang. The trio were then shot dead by police.

However, lawyers representing the families of the three men – M. Puspanathan, 21, T. Poovaneswaran, 24, and G. Logeswaran, 29 – demanded that Bukit Aman investigate their deaths with audio and forensic evidence, claiming they were killed, “execution-style”.

On Dec 3, Bukit Aman CID chief Datuk M. Kumar confirmed receiving a police report lodged by the men’s families expressing their dissatisfaction with the police’s action during the incident. He said Federal police had formed a special team to take over the investigation.

Gobind added: “We must put an immediate and decisive end to these problems. There is simply no place for custodial abuse or deaths here in Malaysia.

“I call upon the Inspector-General of Police to take all necessary steps and measures to translate the prime minister’s direction into concrete action. This demands transparent, integrity-based investigations into all such cases without any delay.”

Gobind, who is also DAP chairman, said there must be immediate action taken against all who are found to have violated standard operating procedures applicable in arrests and investigations or who acted in any other way outside the bounds of the law.