Malaysian Bar urges full transparency over police shooting of three men in Melaka

MALAYSIA: The Malaysian Bar has called for “absolute transparency” in the investigation of three men shot dead by police during an operation in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, on 24 November, urging authorities to preserve all evidence and allow independent scrutiny of the case.

In a statement on Thursday, 4 December, Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said the conflicting narratives surrounding the deaths of M. Puspanathan (21), T. Poovaneswaran (24), and G. Logeswaran (29) were “deeply troubling” and required impartial review.

“When lives are lost at the hands of the state, the law requires nothing less than absolute transparency,” the Bar said, stressing that incidents involving lethal force must be examined without delay or influence.

The statement explained that transparency was essential to maintaining public trust, noting past cases where judicial findings contradicted early police explanations, contributing to what it described as a persistent “trust deficit”.

The Bar also pressed authorities to ensure no evidence is lost or interfered with, including bodycam or dashcam footage, forensic material, firearm discharge reports and communication logs.

“The loss, withholding or destruction of such evidence would be indefensible and would severely undermine public confidence,” it said.

It further urged that the officers involved be placed on administrative leave during investigations.

“Such a measure does not imply guilt,” Ezri said, “but reflects a policing system that understands the gravity of taking a life.”

The Bar added that an independent inquest should be convened without delay and that policing practices must align with international standards such as the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms.

Background: Families dispute police account, leaked audio emerges

The call for transparency comes as families of the deceased challenge the police version of events.

Lawyers representing them claimed the men were unarmed and did not attack officers when the incident occurred around 4am on 24 November.

At a press conference on 3 December at the Lawyers for Liberty office, the families released a 13-minute audio recording believed to capture the moments before and during the shooting. In the clip, G. Logeswaran can be heard pleading with officers repeatedly saying, “Jangan Abang, saya ada anak” (Please don't, brother, I have a child), followed by gunshots.

Jayashree, Logeswaran’s wife, said the audio indicated the men were cooperating with police. 

Lawyers representing the families — Rajesh Nagarajan, Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, and Arun Dorasamy — alleged that evidence presented by police was “fabricated”, including claims that one suspect had slashed an officer with a machete.

Forensic specialist G. Venodthan, who analysed the audio, said it suggested the men were restrained shortly after exiting their vehicle, with no audio indication of weapon use.

He added that downward bullet trajectories in post-mortem reports raised questions of possible “execution-style” shooting, according to FMT.

Police statement and ongoing investigations

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar earlier stated that the men — believed to be part of “Geng DT” — were suspected of involvement in at least 20 robberies across Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor since last year, causing losses estimated at RM1.3 million (appox. US$316,148).

He said the suspects were armed with long machetes and attacked officers during an operation at an oil palm estate in Durian Tunggal on 24 November.
One corporal suffered serious injuries after allegedly being slashed in the arm.

“Police had no choice and had to discharge their weapons in self-defence. All three suspects died at the scene,” Dzulkhairi said.

The case has since been taken over by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department.