Perak police chief Zulkifli Abdullah has leaped to the defence of police personnel, insisting they are professional in carrying out their duties.

Denying the accusation that cops are a trigger-happy bunch, he pointed out that they have to return fire if they are fired upon by criminals in the line of duty.

NONE “The police do not know what will happen when dealing with criminals. They have to make split second decisions when they are being shot at, and to shoot back in self defence,” said an irritated Zulkifli (left in photo) , when asked to comment on an incident last Thursday.

“We are trained to defend ourselves (in dangerous situations) and I am not happy with such accusations.”

He was speaking to the media after the monthly gathering of state district police chiefs in Taiping  this morning.

Zulkifli also dismissed the allegation that the police target members of a particular race and shoot them down during encounters.

‘We see only the dangerous situation created by armed criminals ... and not the race of criminals,” he said.

The latest criticism was triggered by the death of two brothers in a police operation last Thursday night in Taiping. Police said they had returned fire when one of the duo opened fire.

A .22 pistol, six live bullets, two parangs, a samurai sword and three mobile phones were seized from the car used by R Logeswaran, 35, and R Satchithantham, 28.

Logeswaran was said to have 21 previous convictions and was wanted by the police in connection with six cases.

His brother had four previous convictions and had been sent to the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor last year for alleged involvement in robbery.

uthayakumar 160609 Human Rights Party Malaysia pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar (right) had called for a royal commission of inquiry to establish if this was indeed an unofficial police shoot-to-kill operation.

Asked to comment, Zulkifli replied it is up to the government to make a decision.

Speculation shot down

On another matter, Zulkifli shot down speculation that Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham would be charged under the Sedition Act for a comment allegedly made after the opening of the state assembly sitting on March 30.

ngeh koo ham Ngeh, noting the strong police presence in the House that day, was quoted as saying: "I am afraid that tomorrow if there is a debate and they do not like what we say, they can take out their guns and shoot us dead. This can happen because they may not like us."

Zulkifli said the police will carefully study the five reports lodged by members of the public before deciding on the next course of action.

They have recorded a statement from Ngeh, the Setiawan assemblyperson, and from Tronoh representative V Sivakumar.

Ipoh police chief Azisman Alias said that Perak Pakatan Rakyat leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is next on the list.

perak cm mb mohamad nizar jamaluddin

When contacted, Nizar (right) said he would give his statement at 11am tomorrow.

Police believe that Sivakumar and Nizar were present when Ngeh allegedly made the statement.