'Gov't yet to answer Zahid's shoot first remark'

PKR vice-president N Surendran said his participation in a police operation does not automatically let the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi off the hook for his outrageous 'shoot first' remark.

Calling the invitation from Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar, made through a tweet last week, as "an illogical response," Surendran said he accepted the offer in good faith.

"It was a knee-jerk response to legitimate criticism, but I have accepted it in good faith," he said in a statement today.

In response to Surendran's criticisms, Khalid challenged him to observe a police shoot-out operation.

"However, the IGP's invite does not answer my criticism of the home minister's "shoot first" policy and the increasing cases of fatal police shootings.

"The public still awaits reasonable answers and explanations from the IGP and the government," Surendran added

On Monday, Surendran pointed out that 10 criminals have been shot dead over a three-day period, barely a week after Zahid (left) made his remark that the police can go ahead and shoot first with the right evidence in hand, for the sake of police and public safety.

The lawyer and MP for Padang Serai reiterated his call to the government to uphold the safety of all Malaysians and the right to life, as stated in the federal constitution, "which cannot be compromised".

"Irrespective of my participation in this operation or its outcome, the Home Ministry and police top brass must end unlawful and indiscriminate shootings of suspects," Surendran said.

As he prepares to go ahead with the challenge to have a "skin feeling" of the police operation this afternoon, he has been bombarded with messages on his Twitter account, expressing concerns over his safety and urging him not to attend the event with the police.

'Violation of the law?'

The DAP's Puchong MP Gobind Singh questioned whether the police chief may have broken the law in suiting Surendran up for action.

"As member of parliament, I demand that the attorney-general breaks his silence. He must respond.

"I call upon the attorney-general to put some sense into the IGP and to advise him that what he is doing does not find support, be it in law or otherwise," Gobind said in a statement.

He asked why the IGP has chosen to deal personally with Surendran, instead of answering his criticism.

Gobind also questioned the standard operating procedures, asking if this gives the police room to "invite an ordinary, untrained citizen into harm's way".

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