Durian Tunggal Extrajudicial Killing: Urgent Need for PDRM Accountability

Joint Statement

Dec 16

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, are gravely concerned with the shooting in Durian Tunggal, Melaka. We call for an independent and transparent investigation into the matter, and ensure any misconduct or criminal actions are dealt with swiftly in consultation with the victims’ families.

On 24 November 2025, the police reported a police shooting in Durian Tunggal, Alor Gajah, Melaka. The police alleged that three assailants attacked them. The three assailants were allegedly on their way to rob an unspecified place when the police intercepted them.

On 2 December 2025, the family members and the lawyers for the three individuals released information, including a recorded phone call, that cast significant doubt on the police's account of the shooting. In the recorded phone call, there were indications that the three attempted an escape, but were compliant once they were stopped.

On 5 December 2025, the Prime Minister was reported to have instructed the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter. On 10 December 2025, the recording and other related evidence were handed to Bukit Aman for further investigation.

On 13 December 2025, the Melaka police chief disclosed details about the family members of one of the deceased. His statement indicates that the individual was not a spouse but merely a partner of the deceased and allegedly had a past criminal record.

The discharge of firearms by the police and other enforcement agencies is a serious matter. The use of weapons should be the last resort for any officers on duty, as the use would likely result in grievous bodily harm, if not death. The severity of this matter was acknowledged by the government, with the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) issuing the Use of Firearms Guidelines (While on Duty) 2017.

In the Durian Tunggal case, the evidence presented by the lawyers and family members indicates an abuse of power and possibly an extrajudicial killing or a summary execution by the police officer on duty. The alleged actions of the three police officers, if proven true, would amount to murder. The seriousness of this shooting should have led the Melaka police to suspend their internal investigation and hand over the investigation to Bukit Aman.

In these circumstances, it is highly unethical and malicious for a police chief responsible for this shooting to attempt to mislead and misdirect public attention away from the possible illegality behind the shooting. The family members' background and history have no bearing on the shooting or the conduct of the police officers on duty. The lawyer for the person has since disputed the claims. If so, the statement by the Melaka police chief is likely to be both illegal and defamatory.

Civil society and other groups have consistently advocated for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to address misconduct and criminal acts by police officers. The government has since introduced the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) without the broad powers for investigation and prosecution proposed for IPCMC. This case will test the IPCC's competence and effectiveness in handling police misconduct.

PDRM’s public image has already declined due to its past conduct and needs substantial internal and external reform to recover. The Durian Tunggal shooting should serve as a warning for PDRM to review its internal practices and how it manages conflicts with the public, especially when police officers have allegedly committed crimes or are under criminal investigation.

Apart from this shooting, PDRM misconduct in 2025, not in any particular order, includes:

Arrest and remand of activists and residents of Kampung Papan exercising their rights against forced evictions;
Arrest, criminal intimidation, sexual harassment, and illegal exposure of private information of patrons of a health centre following a raid;
Failure by the investigating officer to request a post-mortem examination for 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death;
A remark by Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat suggesting that girls involved in statutory rape cases should be charged alongside the adult male perpetrator;
Police manhandling of two protesters at the spontaneous pro-Palestine protest outside the US Embassy on 2 October, alongside violations of privacy, dignity, and due process of these two protesters via the release of a video depicting an investigating officer lecturing them;
Police manhandling of protesters outside Parliament during the memo submission, followed by the investigation and arrest of Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan,
Special Branch interrogation of four student activists, respectively, on the anti-graft protest and the #JusticeForZara solidarity rally, immediately after statements were already taken from them, and
Delays by Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Unit for Deaths in Custody in investigating the death of M Manisegaran in police custody in February 2025, with his widow’s statement only taken this week, among others.

To this end, we, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, call for:

An impartial criminal investigation into the conduct of the three police officers involved in the Durian Tunggal shooting;
An independent and transparent investigation into the conduct of PDRM in the matter by a competent authority, possibly, a task force comprising IPCC, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the Bar Council, and other appropriate bodies or agencies; and
The Melaka Police Chief is to refrain from any public commentary or statements regarding the matter pending further investigation by Bukit Aman and other agencies; failing which, appropriate disciplinary action is to be taken against him.

Endorsed by: