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A HUMAN rights lawyer has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of three men in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, urging authorities to appoint a senior deputy public prosecutor (DPP) to lead the probe and to establish a special task force to avoid conflicts of interest.
M. Visvananthan the founder of Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together (EDICT) said the investigation should mirror the approach taken in high-profile cases such as 1MDB, where senior prosecutors were placed in charge to ensure independence and credibility.
“The investigation must be led by a senior DPP,” Visvananthan said.
“If this is not done, I have no confidence that the investigation will be transparent, because it would effectively mean the police are investigating the police.”
He stressed that a dedicated task force should be formed to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The shooting occurred at approximately 4.30 am last November at an oil palm plantation in Durian Tunggal, where three men aged between 24 and 29 were fatally shot by police officers.
Initial police accounts claimed that the suspects were members of a gang and that officers opened fire after one of the men allegedly attacked a corporal with a machete, causing serious injury to his arm.
The families of the deceased have publicly contested the police narrative, insisting that the men did not act violently.
While acknowledging what he described as a “new development” — the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) indicating that the case would be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which pertains to murder — Visvananthan expressed disappointment that no arrests or remand orders have been made to date.
“This is unusual,” he said. “In other murder cases, there are typically arrests or individuals remanded for questioning. In this case, there have been no arrests at all.”
Visvananthan also questioned the appropriateness of the police leading the investigation, reiterating concerns about impartiality.
In addition, he called for the Melaka police chief to stand down from making public statements on the case, criticizing remarks he described as irrelevant and inappropriate.
Specifically, Visvananthan said references to the deceased’s wife’s alleged criminal record were unrelated to the investigation and should not have been raised.
“The criminal record of the deceased’s wife has no bearing on this case,” he said.
“Such statements distract from the real issues that must be investigated.”
He further criticized what he described as an “arrogant” response from the Melaka police chief, who reportedly said he was prepared to be sued over his comments.
Visvananthan said the statement was unnecessary and unhelpful at a time when public confidence in the investigation is at stake.
The deaths in Durian Tunggal have drawn renewed attention to the broader issue of deaths in custody in Malaysia, a long-standing concern among civil society groups and human rights advocates.
Human rights groups have repeatedly called for independent oversight mechanisms such as the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission).
The police have faced heightened scrutiny to ensure the probe is conducted with transparency and fairness.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Inspector-General of Police have both reiterated their commitment to a thorough and impartial investigation. – December 18, 2025