Panel to probe teen shooting to include public

The "special panel" formed to probe the fatal shooting of teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah, will have neither investigative powers nor the power to submit recommendations to the police.

Which raises the question of what exactly can they do.

Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop ( left ) who is tasked to head the panel said that they can only "monitor the police investigation into a case to make sure that it is fair and transparent to all parties".

"In the shooting of Aminulrasyid, because the investigation is done by the police, a lot of people have claimed that there won't be transparency. That's why the ministry decided to set up the task force," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya this morning.

Emotions boiling and a'bubbling

He also said that the panel on its own cannot make the findings public, the final decision will be in the hands of the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Abu Seman also said that he hoped that the formation of the panel, would put an end to speculation on what had really happened in the early Monday morning incident.

"At the moment, emotions are running high and there are a lot of people speculating and making wild allegations. We understand and we sympathise with the family.

"We all never wanted such a thing to happen.

"We hope that everyone can remain calm. That is why we formed this panel," he said.

He also said that he will be assisted by the ministry's deputy secretary-general Ahmad Fuad Ab. Aziz in the eight-member panel.

However, Abu Seman refused to divulge the names of those invited to be on the panel, saying that they had yet to give their consent.

"Members of the public will be asked be in the panel," he said.

"But there will not be any politicians. We don't want anyone with special interest," he said.

"If the investigations are not transparent, the image of the ministry will be badly affected," he said.

On Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan's outburst yesterday, threatening to pull out the boys in blue from the streets, Abu Seman remained mum.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is already an independent task force. So I'd rather not comment," he said.

When pressed further for a statement as the deputy home minister, he said: "If you ask me, I have to use the hat of (special panel) chairman (for today's press conference).

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