PHM too wants probe into past police shootings

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) has joined the call for an investigation into previous shootings of suspected criminals by police, in light of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's admission of a "shoot-first" stance in dealing with suspects.

"Hindraf calls for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into police killings, based on the recent admission by the home minister of his tacit crime-busting policies.

"This may look like a tall call, given the trend of things. Nevertheless, it requires that human rights defenders speak up on the matter," PHM adviser N Ganesan (right) said in a statement.

Ahmad Zahid was caught on record backing an underworld group and admitting to a "shoot-first" policy against crime suspects.

The recording also caught him accusing Chinese and Indians of perpetrating crimes, with Malays usually being the victims.

Ganesan said Zahid's admission meant that the government had been lying that police had acted independently in shooting to death crime suspects and it also reveals the source of the ordered killings.

"Given the numbers of shootings and killings... this works out to crimes against humanity and therefore the minister is not only in violation of Malaysian law, he is violation of international law," he said.

‘Right wing threat'
Ganesan added that the home minister's racial comments also "open up all kinds of possibilities" for the right wing elements within the government.

When contacted and asked whether Hindraf would review its position in the government following the revelation, Ganesan declined to comment.

Hindraf had, prior to the 13th general election on May 5, thrown its support behind BN after the ruling coalition agreed to implement Hindraf's blueprint to uplift the Indian community.

The movement's leader, P Waythamoorthy was later appointed a senator and made deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

In August, Waythamoorthy criticised Zahid when police shot to death five suspected Indian gang members in Penang.

However, Waythamoorthy was berated by the other members of the cabinet, including Zahid.

PKR's Padang Serai MP N Surendran has similarly called for the setting up of an RCI to investigate previous shootings by the police, stating that the minister's "shoot first" admission was tantamount to murder.