KUALA LUMPUR: Police have denied allegations that they are trigger-happy and have a “shoot-to-kill” approach when confronting suspects.
Federal CID Director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said the reference was made on the shooting of five robbers in Klang on Nov 8 when cops were accused of using indiscriminate force resulting in the death of the suspects.
“There was a high-speed car chase where the robbers tried to force the pursuing police vehicle off the road while firing shots indiscriminately at them. Police had no choice but to return fire.
“Had the police officers failed to act decisively and put a stop to the deadly threat at that moment, death or serious injury could have befallen them or innocent civilians, who could have been hit by stray bullets,” he said.
Comm Bakri said that in all cases, police were fired upon first, resulting in officers returning fire.
“When police officers shoot, they do not shoot to kill; they shoot to stop the deadly threat.
“It is clearly within the right of the police to act in self-defence and protect the people,” he added. He said criminals these days had become more brazen and did not hesitate to shoot at police and civilians in a bid to escape arrest, adding that police officers had been seriously wounded or killed when discharging their duties.
He reiterated that police had no intention to kill but when the situation became life-threatening, police had to act.
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