KUALA LUMPUR: Six Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers, who were on duty during the recent Tanjung Rhu shooting incident involving Indonesians, have been put on leave as the investigation continues, says the Home Minister.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said police are investigating the incident under Section 39 of the Arms Act.
Investigation papers have also been opened on the Indonesians involved under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, Section 36 of the Arms Act for possession and importation of imitation arms, Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants in their duties, and Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act for people smuggling, he added.
According to reports, the MMEA, while on patrol at 3am on Jan 24, fired shots at a boat allegedly attempting to attack its personnel.
“We suspect that the boat was involved in trafficking people, but we are not (ruling out) that they were also involved in smuggling firearms and drugs based on previous patterns of cases,” Saifuddin Nasution told reporters at the Parliament House here yesterday.
“A comprehensive investigation is being done, which includes looking into the use of firearms by the MMEA officers during the incident.
“Following a meeting with (Inspector-General of Police) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and (Selangor police chief) Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, it was agreed that the (MMEA personnel) will be put on leave pending investigation,” he added.
Saifuddin Nasution said MMEA is also conducting an internal probe.
He said police have identified one of the men injured as a transporter who provided services bringing undocumented migrants in and out of the country.
He also said his ministry had contacted the Indonesian Embassy here to gain access to their hospitalised nationals following the incident.
“We have allowed the embassy officials to visit them.
“This is a normal procedure since it involves the citizens of their country,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently pledged a transparent investigation into the shooting incident involving the MMEA officers and a group of undocumented Indonesian immigrants in the waters of Tanjung Rhu, Banting in Selangor.
He directed the embassy to communicate the preliminary investigation report to Indonesia.
Several foreign men, believed to have been shot, sought treatment at Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Serdang, Selangor, while one suspect was killed.
Comm Hussein later told the media that the suspects were believed to be involved in migrant smuggling and were trying to leave the country illegally.
