Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is under fire for his controversial "shoot first" remark, has now added a new twist to the saga.

He claims that the police Standard Operating Procedure does not require the men in blue to fire warning shots in any confrontation with criminals.

"(If we fire warning shots), the gangsters will run away or if they are armed, the police will die first," he was quoted as saying in an interview with IMRtv, which is linked to former senior PAS leader Hasan Ali.

What is important, Ahmad Zahid said, is gathering intelligence .

NONE"If we get the actual information, and they are armed and are gangsters ...I only say gangsters must be eliminated but it is up to the inspector-general of police, the state police chiefs or the director of criminal investigations to do it.

"This is as long as the SOP is being followed," he said.

In an obvious swipe at Malaysiakini for exposing his controversial remarks made during an event in Malacca last week, the home minister warned news portals not to “poison the people’s minds”.

"When you quote me, put it as a whole (the entire text).

"Do not put 'half-half' as it would become a half truth. Why when I say... they directly attack me.

"I am always open. If I am open... but you (the news portal) is closed, this is called jumud (backward). There should not be agenda setting," he said.

Stating that he has a doctorate in human communication studies, Ahmad Zahid said the news portal is setting an agenda to "tarnish the image of a person, party or government."

"You must be a professional journalist and not become a street journalist where you find some material and spin," he added.

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