The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) is free to investigate the Durian Tunggal shooting, where police officers are suspected of killing three men in cold blood.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the IPCC is an independent body and can decide on its own whether to launch any investigations, regardless of whether a complaint was made, including the Durian Tunggal case.

"In this matter, the Home Ministry leaves it fully to the IPCC as an independent body to take appropriate action in line with the (IPCC) Act," he said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.

Saifuddin (above) was responding to William Leong (Harapan-Selayang) on whether the IPCC had been roped in to investigate the police shooting case, and how the government planned to ensure no conflict of interest in the police's own investigations into the case.

Malacca police had initially claimed that the shooting was done in self-defence.

However, this was disputed with an alleged audio recording of the incident, which later led Bukit Aman to take over the probe and reclassify it as a murder investigation.

The officers involved have been suspended.

On Feb 10, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said police had completed investigations and were awaiting instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The IPCC is a watered-down version of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

One key difference is that, unlike the proposed IPCMC, the IPCC can't take any action against errant police officers. Instead, action must be referred to the Police Force Commission or other relevant authorities.

The Durian Tunggal shooting had previously led to calls for the government to establish the IPCMC.

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