Human rights group Suaram today lashed out at the police, demanding that they stop making excuses for shooting down suspects claimed to be involved in criminal activities.

The abuse of power by the police and the blatant oppression of human rights is a serious problem in the force, said Suaram.

In a statement today, the NGO’s coordinator Yap Heng Lung rebuked the recent killing of three youths, Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie, 16, Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22, who were believed to have been involved in at least three armed robberies in Selangor over five days last week.

Yap was referring specifically to Mohd Shamil, who was a minor at the time he was killed.

“We are very disappointed with the reasons given by the police over the incident, accusing the suspects of attacking them with machetes.

“If they used machetes, why were all of them shot? Couldn’t the police have issued a warning to the suspects?

“Every police version of the story for using firearms is the same. They justify the usage of firearms for self-protection, but until today they have never revealed the context in which the use of firearms is permitted,” said Yap.

‘No solid procedures‘

He pointed out that although the risk faced by the police in combatting crime is understandable, the manner in which officers shoot to kill is unacceptable.

NONE Yap demanded that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ismail Omar ( right ) reveal the contents of the classified Inspector-General's Standing Orders (IGSO) because public lives are at stake.

“As there are no solid procedures to ensure that every shooting case is reported and investigated independently and thoroughly, suspicions are raised whether the police use firearms for self-defence or use it against suspects to solve their case easily,” said Yap.

He appealed to the government to implement recommendation put forth in the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police.

Yap added that rampant abuse of power in the police force can only be solved if the suggestions of the royal commission to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) is followed through.