Malaysia AGC orders police to reclassify Melaka fatal shooting of three men as murder

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on 16 December 2025 ordered that the investigation into the fatal police shooting of three men in Melaka be reclassified as murder, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn national scrutiny.

According to a statement by the AGC, the investigation papers had been referred to the Chambers, and based on briefings and recommendations submitted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the AGC directed that the case be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Section 302 provides for the offence of murder, carrying the most serious criminal penalties under Malaysian law.

The AGC said the reclassification was necessary to allow further investigative steps to be completed before any final prosecutorial decision is made.

Families welcome reclassification as step towards justice

The families of the three men shot dead by police in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, welcomed the AGC’s decision, describing it as a crucial step towards accountability and justice.

The shooting occurred on 24 November, when three men aged between 24 and 29 were killed during a police operation at an oil palm plantation in Durian Tunggal at about 4.30am.

Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar previously said the suspects were believed to be members of the Durian Tunggal Gang and were allegedly on their way to rob a premise.

He said one of the suspects had allegedly swung a machete at a policeman, causing a corporal to suffer serious injuries to his left arm, prompting police to open fire.

Datuk Dzulkhairi added that the group had been active in criminal activities since 2024, with 20 cases recorded in Melaka and one case each in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor.

According to police, the alleged crimes resulted in total losses of RM1.35 million.

However, on 3 December, the families of the three men publicly denied claims that the victims had acted violently or attacked police officers during the incident.

Following these denials, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk M. Kumar said on 4 December that a special task force had been established to investigate the allegations raised by the families.

The AGC said on 16 December that its initial review found that several further actions still needed to be taken by PDRM to complete the investigation, indicating that the reclassification was part of a broader effort to ensure thoroughness.

The decision prompted political responses, including from Deputy Minister for Law and Institutional Reform M. Kulasegaran, who questioned why the investigation had not been classified as murder from the outset.

Political leaders question initial classification

In a statement on 17 December, Kulasegaran asked under which legal provision the case had originally been investigated and why Section 302 had not been applied immediately.

He stressed that police must now expedite the investigation and secure all relevant evidence, adding that the families of the deceased must be assured the probe would get to the crux of the incident.

Kulasegaran, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, warned that the outcome of the investigation would have wide-ranging implications for public trust in the professionalism of the authorities.

Assurances from prime minister and police leadership

At the national level, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on 16 December during an oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara that the case would be investigated thoroughly and transparently.

He emphasised that there would be no compromise by PDRM in ensuring accountability and adherence to the law.

Separately, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail reiterated the Royal Malaysia Police’s commitment to transparency and integrity in a statement issued on the same day.

He said the police would not tolerate any form of misconduct and would ensure that every investigation process is conducted in accordance with the law to guarantee justice for all parties.

Lawyers cite evidence supporting murder probe

In a joint statement, lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh, representing the families of the deceased, said evidence supporting a murder investigation had been “overwhelming from the start”.

They cited audio recordings of the incident, pathologist findings communicated to them, and photographic evidence as grounds for their position.

“The families are relieved that the authorities have finally classified it correctly as murder. It is the right thing to do,” the lawyers said.

They expressed hope that the investigation under Section 302 would be swift, efficient and impartial, noting that while the families could not regain their loved ones, they were entitled to justice under the law.

Malaysian Bar urges full transparency over Melaka police shooting probe

The Malaysian Bar had earlier, on 4 December, called for “absolute transparency” in the investigation into the fatal shooting.

In a statement, the Bar said that when lives are lost at the hands of the state, the law requires the highest level of openness and accountability.

It warned that past cases in which judicial findings contradicted initial police explanations had contributed to a persistent deficit of public trust.

The Bar also urged authorities to ensure that no evidence is lost, withheld or interfered with, including body camera or dashcam footage, forensic materials, firearm discharge reports and communication logs.

It said any loss or destruction of such evidence would be indefensible and would severely undermine public confidence in the investigation.