Security forces given go-ahead to shoot intruders, says Malaysia's home minister
PUBLISHED ON JUL 15, 2014 9:32 AM



KANGAR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's Home Ministry has given security forces the go-ahead to shoot when faced with intruders encroaching into Malaysian waters and deemed a threat to national security, overriding a statement by the Attorney-General earlier.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that if only shooting could stop intruders, the shooting was justified.

"The government has no problem with the shooting order if intruders try to enter the country," he said when commenting on a request by Navy chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar.

Earlier in the day, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had rejected the Navy chief's suggestion, saying that Malaysia is not a military state.

Adm Abdul Aziz had urged the government to issue the orders following another intrusion at the resort in Mabul Island, Semporna, Sabah, where a marine policeman was killed and another kidnapped two days ago.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also promised more changes to Esscom, the security force in charge of the eastern Sabah once police take over its operations today.

"We must also be proactive, not wait for someone to attack us and then react. The new procedures will include surveillance and control," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.

He added that resort operators in Mabul Island would also be asked to install CCTV to record the movement of traffic in their areas and to avoid similar intrusions.

"They should spend some money for long term benefits. If such resorts are closed down, it will be a big loss to them.

Abdul Gani had said earlier that although laws must not be amended, police could shoot on sight the suspected terrorists.

"Yes, the police can shoot if they are terrorists, and if they intend to cause harm to us," he said.

Adm Abdul Aziz had made the call, saying that the security threats from the Philippines were not scared when local authorities fired warning shots at them.

"According to our shooting control orders and existing rules, we are only allowed to shoot as part of our defence and cannot shoot on sight. And this has prevented authorities to thwart attempts carried out by them.

"This is especially important when authorities are involved in a shootout," he explained. "If we do not shoot them, they can easily escape and we cannot stop these incidents from occurring again," he said.

"We need to be a military-ruled state to adopt it."

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asi...aysias-home-m?

Allow shoot on sight law, says navy
BY AUDREY DERMAWAN AND HARIZ MOHD - 15 JULY 2014 @ 8:11 AM



KUALA LUMPUR: THE Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) wants security forces to be given the power to shoot on sight any suspicious targets encroaching Sabah waters.

Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, in mooting the proposal, said this was to prevent terrorists from southern Philippines from entering the country.

He said the laws prohibited members of security forces from shooting on sight and this had prevented security forces, including the navy, from wiping out such attempts completely, despite numerous opportunities to do so in the past.

He said the proposal was made considering that terrorists in the region were using the lat-est technology and high-speed boats, besides being trained as “fighters”.

“Surely, it involves the issue of law, but there has to be some form of cautious element.

“For example, when we sound a warning for them to stop and they refuse to do so, don’t tell me we have to wait for them to approach us.

“Surely, we must stop them.

“There was a situation where we could have fired (at them), but were forced to hold back (due to legalities).

“So, if we are given the green light to shoot, they will be afraid.

“Now they are not, as they know we will not shoot at them,” he said adding that the attorney-general needed to revisit the matter to make it easier for security management in Sabah’s west coast.

Aziz was speaking to reporters after witnessing the handing over of duty for the Fleet Commander at the RMN base in Lumut here yesterday.

Vice-Admiral Datuk Abdul Hadi A. Rashid, 58, who retired,
was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Datuk Mohamad Roslan Mohamad Ramli, 55.

Elaborating on his statement later, Aziz said the navy’s request for power to shoot on sight was meant as a deterrence measure.

He said such power needed to be exercised so that suspicious targets would not take our security forces’ presence lightly.

“The power to shoot will be exercised against suspected intruders, who try to flee and those who refuse to allow security forces to perform checks. It is not to shoot and kill them.

“(In some cases) Only by firing shots can we make the suspects heed our orders.

“Intruders are not afraid of security forces’ orders and would flee every time, as they knew that we are not allowed to shoot.

“If they are not guilty of anything, they should not be afraid to allow security forces to perform checks and investigate what they are doing,” he said during a press conference at KD Sri Gombak here yesterday.

Aziz said he hoped the government would consider the request as “the time had come” for action to ensure the nation’s security.

“Now is not the time to show leniency. We must be firm as intruders who encroach our waters with ill intention will not be afraid if we are not firm.

“How many more should die? How many more should become the victims of these intruders?”

Aziz said the navy would place more ships and frigates in the west coast of Sabah to ensure comprehensive monitoring in the waters there.

“We will set up four long-term platforms in the waters to station our men and our vessels,” he said, adding that the ambush on Pulau Mabul on Saturday was an incident that had affected the country’s and the security forces’ image.

http://www.nst.com.my/node/13197?