'When the police were aware that the couple was engaged in a chat inside the car, did it warrant to shoot at the disobedient couple.'

Woman files suit against 'trigger-happy' police

Cala: The hypothesis that Malaysian police is trigger-happy found empirical evidence added to the list. In Siti Nasrinda Tumirin's case which took place in August 2009, she was with her boyfriend (now husband) when the police suddenly approached them. They fled in their car while a relentless police gave chase and fired. Siti Nasrinda was injured by a bullet.

One needs to ask: in such a condition when the police were aware that the couple was engaged in a chat inside the car, did it warrant to shoot at the disobedient couple knowing that their shooting might cause the deaths of the couple? Were the three 'offences' (speeding, committing ‘khalwat' and obstruction) merited the police to open fire?

It looks to me the police have not learnt their lesson. A similar incident took place years ago involving a doctor and his girlfriend chatting in a car and they were approached by the police. Sadly, the doctor was shot and killed while trying to flee. The policeman was later found guilty in court.

Doubt: I think the first bit of education we need to do is to educate the public not to run away from the cops. You may think, and rightly so, that you are not a criminal, but the act of running away when the police come up to you is in itself a criminal offence. Ever try running away from a robber if he or she has a gun?

Hashim: With so many people impersonating as police officers, what should a woman do when driving alone late at night and is stopped by the ‘police'?

Lucia: True, one should not run away from the police if one is not in the wrong but then again the police should act responsibly. If they want to shoot, can't they shoot at the car's tyres? Why do they shoot aiming at people? (In this case, they shot at the passenger's seat where Siti Nusrinda Tumirin was seated.

Richard F Sindra: Both parties, the police and civilians, are responsible for their own action. Why run away from the police? And for the police, why didn't they follow procedures when using their guns?

Sentinel: New police recruits should not be allowed to carry firearms for at least two years. They are protected by their senior colleagues anyway. How can we have recruits who are SRP qualified and after six months' training be armed with a gun? They are probably only around 21-22 years old.

Dingy: The problem is the home minister still believes that all police are righteous and they only carry out their duties. Police are human and as human beings they can also make mistakes. Some are arrogant and love to use fire arms at smallest excuse.

Ko Pi Ior: This revelation is very serious. This and a couple of earlier incidents would justify for an in-depth investigation on the training, procedures and handling of such incidents by the police themselves apart from the right of recourse by members of the public.

Not Confused: I think it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't (stop for the police). There have been many instances where police have detained individuals (many times for relatively minor offences) who have not fled, and they have subsequently been found dead in the cells somewhere, or mysteriously died in some other circumstances whilst in custody of our infamous police force.

On the other hand, if you flee, then you are shot dead without any warning.

Mangodurian: From what is described, it seems the couple at the time was afraid of being caught for ‘khalwat' and fled. Unfortunately for Muslims, being in a car together unmarried can be considered close proximity. It's sad that a courting couple has to be subject to this, but such is the syariah law.

If they are doing more than just talking, then in civil jurisdiction, they could have been liable for indecency. The question would then whether the police flouted the rules of firearms engagement in such a situation, where the intention of check (well within the police rights) turns into a suspect chase.

If the police is flashing their sirens and chasing after you, must they shout, 'Stop or I'll shoot' before they actually shoot? Or is the siren flashing already an indication of their right to shoot? And even if they can shoot, should they not fire a warning shot first before taking aim with the intention to incapacitate? Finally, when are they allowed to shoot-to-kill?

@cala, in both these incidences - one can only wonder why the heck would they flee from the police (or at least what they described as such)? You'd think that you'd have confidence if a law enforcement officer approached you.

It could be understandable if both incidences involved Muslims in which case, it is highly likely that they didn't want to be tried as ‘khalwat'. If that is the case, then it is just sad that courting couples have to evade the law for just dating.

If it's not a case of ‘khalwat' evasion, then something is seriously wrong if lawfully-abiding citizens are running away from police.

Ric: These bad apples in the police force are trigger-happy because they know they will be protected by their boss even if they have done wrong.