IGP: If man died a martyr, are my men 'kafir'?

ARAU (Bernama): Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador has slammed the actions of an individual who made irresponsible statements on the shooting incident where police shot a man dead for slashing two colleagues in Penang recently.

Although the Inspector-General of Police did not name the person, it is believed he was referring to the leader of a political party who was reported to have said in a political talk recently that the man had died a martyr.

Abdul Hamid said he viewed the statement as serious and had instructed police to open an investigation paper and call the individual in to give a statement.

"On the incident, there are still irresponsible people who are issuing their own statements, saying the person died a martyr.

"I view the matter seriously because if the man died a martyr, then how about my men who shot him, are they kafir (infidels)?” he said at a press conference held after launching the 2019 Royal Malaysia Police Innovation Day 2019 here Friday (Sept 27).

He said such statements are not acceptable as they were recklessly made without considering the actual facts of the case.

Abdul Hamid said the police had taken action in accordance with the law adding that the tragedy would have been worse if they hadn't.

"I have already said before that the incident was not connected to what was said of it. The individual concerned had become extremist and radical as he was obsessed with violent videos on social media, ” Abdul Hamid said.

He advised the public - especially parents - to monitor the activities of their children who should not be watching too many violent videos on social media as they could influenced and be radicalised.

He had earlier issued a warning that stern action, including arrests, will be taken against irresponsible people for spreading articles about the incident which could cause racial tension in the country.

He also confirmed that the suspect who was shot dead had been influenced by terrorist video clips from the Middle East. - Bernama