MELAKA: Police will comply with the directive by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to reclassify the investigation into the fatal shooting of three men in Durian Tunggal here as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, says state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.
He added the state police have handed over the investigation to Bukit Aman.
“If it’s proven that any party is involved in wrongdoing, we will ensure appropriate action is taken,” he said yesterday.
DCP Dzulkhairi’s remarks came following the AGC’s decision to reclassify the case after reviewing the police investigation report.
The AGC said it had been consulted on the case report and, based on briefings and recommendations submitted by the police, agreed to order the reclassification of the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
DCP Dzulkhairi said he takes full responsibility as the Melaka police chief in all circumstances, adding that the morale and commitment of officers and personnel in the contingent remained unaffected.
He also confirmed that a police officer who was injured after being slashed with a machete during the operation has been discharged from hospital and is on medical leave.
On Nov 24, three men in their 20s were shot dead after one of them allegedly swung a machete at a policeman at an oil palm plantation at about 4.30am, causing a corporal to sustain serious injuries to his left arm.
Melaka police said all the suspects from the alleged ‘Durian Tunggal Gang’ were believed to be on their way to rob a premises and had been active in committing crimes since 2024, involving 20 cases in Melaka and one case each in Negri Sembilan and Selangor, with total losses amounting to RM1.35mil.
However, on Dec 3, the families of the three suspects denied claims that the victims acted violently by attacking the police.
Following this, on Dec 4, a special task force was set up to investigate the families’ allegations of dissatisfaction with police actions.
Meanwhile, the families of the three men shot dead have expressed relief over the reclassification of the case.
“While welcoming the reclassification under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the families demand that officers involved in the shooting be suspended or placed on garden leave immediately, including Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar,” said their lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan.
“We hope for a swift, efficient and impartial probe under Section 302,” he added.
