YOURSAY 'Human rights apply to everyone and not just criminals as Zahid claims. A criminal has to be proven guilty by a court.'

'What about rights of cops and crime victims?'

Bumiasli: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked a good question. The victims need to be defended by the cops.

The cops in turn need to be more sensitive to human rights too. You can't just shoot people because they have committed an offence. The cops cannot be given the rights of a judge to pass death sentences.

Human rights apply to everyone and not just criminals as Zahid claims. A criminal has to be proven guilty by a court, and not by the cops or the home minister.

There is no easy way out for crime and the bottom line is that the cops need to be better trained to solve them. Today, there are too many murders and robberies which, even with evidence and motives established, are not attended to by cops.

As home minister, Zahid should concentrate on the efficiency of the cops rather than the weaknesses of criminals.

Multi Racial: If Zahid is not a public figure and not holding any government position, then it does not matter what Zahid said in his ‘closed-door' meeting. But Zahid is Malaysia's home minister and what he said has grave consequences.

He said cops should shoot first then investigate later. He did not say cops are allowed to shoot if their lives are in danger. He implied Indians are criminals and Malays are victims in this speech to his audience. This is irresponsible.

And for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim, there is a Chinese saying, "If you keep your mouth shut, nobody will say you are stupid."

Anonymous #40538199: This was not a crime-fighting speech but a speech to play to the gallery. We need rule of law, not rule by law.

In rule of law, the law is something the government serves; in rule by law, the government uses law as the most convenient way to govern.

Malaccan: The right of a victim is not to be a victim; and the police have a duty to make it so. It is not the right of the victim to have any person shot down first without due process of the law and then be used to justify the killing.

The right of the police is to be able to defend themselves at all times and be well led by competent commanders and minister in charge.

It is not the right of the police to shoot at someone based on suspicions and justify it when the person is dead and cannot say otherwise.

Pahatian: What human rights are you talking about, Zahid? The police force is the law. They have the law and the government to protect them.

They also have guns, though some of them may accidentally fell into the sea. What further protection do they need?

Spinnot: The rights of the cops and the victims are protected by the laws, not by extra-judicial killing.

Appum: Don't just shoot your mouth off and try to squirm out of your predicament. Tell us or give us instances where we do not defend the human rights of cops and victims of robberies, shootings and murders? Among the many victims, here is an example:

We are still unhappy with the two cops initially taking the rap for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. We want to defend the human rights of both cops and victim in this case, but do you?

Pray give us an answer before you shoot your mouth off again. Or will this answer be given only behind closed doors?

Done: Police have training, standard operating procedures (SOP) and laws so that they can carry a gun. That is why they are called he police, while the police's job is to protect and save lives. No one said cops have an easy life.

R1: So what right does police have to be permitted to shoot anyone he suspects a criminal? Take that foot from your mouth first before you make a fool of yourself once more.

NuckinFuts: Zahid is truly ignorant of the law. If we were to follow his logic, criminals have no human rights and police are allowed to shoot first, ask questions later.

But that makes the police criminals for extrajudicial execution of suspects. So the police will automatically lose their rights and other police officers should start shooting other police officers, until there are none is left standing.

CHKS: I thought the main job of the police is to ensure the safety of the people. It is the court which decides who is innocent and who is guilty.

But if you implement a shoot-first policy, you don't need the courts, the lawyers and the judges anymore because the police would effectively sentence them to death on the spot.

Also, think about this scenario - what if the person suspected is your own relative?

Not Confused: In any democracy, everyone has a right to protection and equal treatment under the law.

Zahid steadfastly, deliberately misses the point. Shooting first and asking questions later is nothing more than vigilantism by the police, since there is and cannot be any judicial involvement.

The police should be much more professional and need to undergo much more training in detection and forensics so that they can produce the necessary evidence in court when any suspect is charged.

This is the correct way to ensure that criminals are dealt with appropriately and victims feel justice has not only been done, but more importantly, seen to be done.

Absalom: It is my opinion that it is not the crime situation or the victims' rights that Zahid is thinking about when he made the incredible and shocking remarks.

He is simply thinking about winning in the Umno elections and how he can stir up and arouse the sentiments and emotions of the Malay voters to do just that.

In his mind, just because Umno secured more seats in the GE (despite the ruling party losing in popular votes), the only thing that matters, is the sentiments of the Malays including inciting them and whipping up hatred towards others. Never mind that the rights of other Malaysians (and journalists) which can be chewed and spat out.

Nothing must stand in the way. Not the people, not the newspapers, and not Malaysiakini. It is a strategy that might win him votes but a tragedy for Malaysia and all those Malaysians who aspire to live in a peaceful harmonious multiracial nation.

God help us if such reckless, insensitive, arrogant types who are totally lacking in leadership qualities come to power.

Unspin: Nobody is questioning the rights of the police or victims of crime. The main issue here is extrajudicial killings by the police.

A home minister who openly supports a "shoot first, ask later" and then "fabricate evidence" strategy should resign and make way for one who respects all human rights.

Now we know why PDRM is dead against IPCMC

Shoot-to-kill policy forces criminals to shoot first

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