PETALING JAYA, 4 Mar 2010: No charges will be brought against police who were involved in shooting single mother Norizan Salleh, but investigations may be conducted into reports that police stepped on her after she was shot.
“Her allegations of being stepped on and punched after the shooting may have to be looked into to see whether there was any abuse [of power],” Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said. “But as far as the shooting was concerned, that was rightful.”
(Pic by hisks / sxc.hu) Ku was referring to the 30 Oct 2009 incident in Kuala Lumpur, where Norizan sustained a bullet wound close to her heart after being shot at five times.
“We have investigated this case thoroughly and submitted the papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP). He is satisfied the police acted within the provisions of section 100 of the Penal Code, [which allows for self-defence under certain circumstances].
“He does not propose to charge or take any departmental action against any of the police involved,” Ku told The Nut Graph.
Written guidelines
In an e-mail and phone interview, Ku said that in the Norizan incident, police were acting within the ambit of the police’s written guidelines on the use of firearms.
“Deriving from the legal provision [in the Penal Code], Inspector-General Standing Order D222 lays out further guidelines,” Ku explained.
“Police may discharge their firearms when they believe that their lives or the lives of those in their protection are in danger. The key words in the order are ‘reasonableness’ and ‘good faith’. Also, the right to self-defence ceases when there is no more threat to their lives and the lives of others.”
Norizan Referring to Norizan’s case, Ku said, “We have the luxury of time and hindsight, but our [police] do not have that luxury. They had to decide in a split second what to do.”
Ku added that the car Norizan was in had tried to ram the police when they were pursuing it. He also said the car was found to have been reported stolen, contained stolen items and weapons such as machetes, and that the two men in the car later tested positive for drugs.
Ku said any discharge of firearms triggers a formal investigation which is forwarded to the DPP for consideration.
Shot, then kicked
In an interview in Kuala Lumpur on 2 March 2010, Norizan said she was sitting in the backseat of a car on her way home to Segambut when a police patrol vehicle drew up alongside and fired shots at them.
“When the car stopped, I tried to ask for help because I had been shot, but the police kicked me. When I got out, I was stepped on by the police. I kept saying, ‘Encik, Encik, saya kena tembak.’ When the police realised I had actually been shot, then only they brought me to the hospital,” she said.
Norizan added that the car driver’s thigh was grazed whereas the other two occupants were not injured.
The gunshot wounds led to part of her lung being removed and shattered some bones in her right wrist, which is still in a cast. In addition, Norizan said two ribs were broken by the police stepping on her.
Norizan said she has no criminal record, has not been charged for any crime, and has not done anything wrong. “I would like legal action to be taken against those who have abused their power. I would also like compensation for my injuries,” she said.
Norizan has lodged a police report on the incident and also raised the matter with Suhakam.
Minister’s response
Hishammuddin (File pic) Norizan also attempted to submit a memorandum of complaint to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on 25 Feb 2010. The minister, however, was not present to receive it.
When asked on 2 Mar 2010 about the shooting by The Nut Graph at a ministry event in Kota Damansara, Hishammuddin said he was unaware that Norizan had gone to the ministry on 25 Feb to deliver the memorandum.
On whether any investigation was being carried out to ascertain why Norizan was shot, Hishammuddin replied: “I don’t have the details.”
The Nut Graph has also made an official request to the ministry for a copy of the guidelines on discharge of firearms but has not received a response to date.
Suhakam commissioner Datuk N Sivasubramaniam told The Nut Graph that the national human rights commission would also be requesting for the guidelines in their meeting with the police about Norizan’s case.
However, Ku said the guidelines are an “internal, restricted administrative document not meant to be circulated in public”.
When asked about the guidelines at the ministry event, Hishammuddin said the issue wasn’t about guidelines. “It’s about taking seriously issues that have been directly brought to our attention.” 
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Michael says
Hishammuddin as usual amazes all of us with his choice of words. Can’t wait for Muhyiddin to speak.
kamal says
I have often wondered what causes tyranny and I think I can say that if nothing else, it is the fault of cowardice.
There are no evil men holding society at ransom, rather it is the fear of standing out, of being the first to point out the obvious fallacy or injustices in our beliefs and practices, that open the floodgates to tyranny.
In the case of Malaysians, we are mortified at appearing overly critical. Standing out is not being original, it is being foolish. We might get caught (for most parts the fear is just in coming out looking silly). There is a script and we all adhere to it. Be it the lay person, politicians, government officers, journalists or high-flying executives, if you are different, you careful couch it in a non-spectacular way. We Malaysians love spectacles, but from a comfortable distance. That is probably why we love our Yasmin Ahmads’ so much, such local display of originality and courage is a rare occurrence.
I read the article and felt I must reply to this astonishing tale. It has all the ingredients for brave men to step forward. But alas… And, I was about to pen a clever reply, but paused, it seemed a bit too much to have my neck out, exposed for all to see. So I choose instead to toe the line, to say nothing, nothing sensible that is.
who says
Why would a girl like Norizan hang around with drug [users] in a stolen car? […]
onesided says
How come didn’t bring up the story on how the driver of the car managed and rammed into police patrol cars? As usual, just bring up one side of the story for cheap propaganda. Trying her best to attract viewers…hahaha.
===
Er, that part is *in* the story. Did you actually read it? It’s here: “Ku added that the car Norizan was in had tried to ram the police when they were pursuing it. He also said the car was found to have been reported stolen, contained stolen items and weapons such as machetes, and that the two men in the car later tested positive for drugs.”
Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor
the reader says
What really happened? Why?
onesided says
@Shanon, sorry it was my mistake, I’m jumping the gun. Now I know why…this is why
“Ku added that the car Norizan was in had tried to ram the police when they were pursuing it. He also said the car was found to have been reported stolen, contained stolen items and weapons such as machetes, and that the two men in the car later tested positive for drugs.”
===
Er, what’s the explanation here? *I* was the one who brought that section to *your* attention, so I don’t understand how that explains you “jumping the gun”? But that’s okay, apology accepted anyway.
Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor
aca says
The two men charged? If so, for drugs and attempts to injure the policemen?
mslam says
This is a case of brutality and demands that the bar coucil have someone to check the veracity of the sequence of events.
How can a innocent woman be shot at? Was she in possession of any gun or offensive weapon at the time?
It is cruel to have the police kicking her after she complained that she was shot at! This is inhuman. Split second decision requires highly trained personnel to unload their weapons and not the trigger-happy ones.
The car being stolen is a secondary consideration.