ARAU: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador has slammed the actions of an individual who made irresponsible statements on a shooting incident where police shot dead a man who slashed two colleagues in Penang recently.
Although he 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.
Hamid said he viewed the statement as serious and had instructed police to open an investigation paper and call the individual to give a statement.
“Tthere 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 today.
He said such statements were not acceptable as they were recklessly made, without considering the actual facts of the incident.
Hamid said the police had taken action in accordance with the law. Otherwise a worse tragedy could have occurred.
“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 the social media,” he said.
Hamid advised the public, especially parents, to monitor the activities of their children who should not be watching too many violent videos on the social media as they could be influenced and be radicalised.
He had earlier issued a warning that stern action, including arrest, would be taken against irresponsible people for spreading rumours 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