Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop said the special eight-member panel established to oversee police investigations into the shooting of Aminulrasyid Amzah is empowered to call up witnesses.

Additionally, the panel will review procedures involving the discharge of firearms.

NONE Abu Seman said he met four police officers this morning including the state criminal investigations department chief and case investigating officer.

"We may also call up civilian witnesses if the need arises,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya.

Abu Seman was speaking after the inaugural meeting of the panel, which he leads. His deputy is Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Ahmad Fuad Aziz.

Notably, the panel consists of former inspector-general of police (IGP) Mohammed Haniff Omar, who was deputy chairperson of the 2004 Commission to Enhance the Operations and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police.

NONE Others in the eight-member panel include former Suhakam commissioner Denison Jayasooria, crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute chief executive officer Michael Yeoh and law lecturer Prof Abdul Halim Sidek.

In announcing the formation of the panel last week, Abu Seman had said the it cannot perform its own investigations and can only “monitor the police investigation into a case to make sure that it is fair and transparent to all parties”.

Findings to be made public

NONE On the terms of reference, Abu Seman said that, apart from monitoring the investigation, the panel will review the standard operating procedure of the police when discharging weapons while on duty.

                       

This includes reviewing the standing orders of the district police chief and the IGP. The findings of the panel will be made public.

He added that the panel will meet once a week and will visit the scene of the fatal shooting of teenager Aminulrasyid Amzah (above) in Section 11, Shah Alam at 10pm today.

azlan Abu Seman stressed that the panel is “powerful”, because it is empowered to scrutinise the investigation papers at any time without needing the approval of the police or attorney-general’s chambers.

Asked about witnesses volunteering information to the press, Abu Seman said this was within their rights to do so.

"If they have made a police report and decide to call a press conference, we cannot stop them," he added.

Yesterday, the passenger who was with Aminulrasyid, disputed the police version of the incident.