KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended today his reported “shoot first, talk later” speech last weekend, questioning why human rights activists are more concerned with the wellbeing of criminal suspects than for the police and victims.

In a post on his Twitter handle @Zahid_Hamidi, he implied that the uproar surrounding his statement failed to consider the rights of police officers and victims of criminals, especially if they are killed.

“Mana hak asasi utk Polis dan mangsa rompak, tembak dan bunuh. Kenapa pejuang hak asasi tidakpun membela? Hak asasi hanya utk penjenayah?” he tweeted in Malay.

[Translation: “Where are human rights for the police and victims of robbery, shooting and murder. Why are human rights activists not defending? Human rights only for criminals?”]

On Saturday, Ahmad Zahid reportedly advocated a “shoot first” policy for the police in dealing with suspected gang members in the wake of a violent crime spree that has resulted in Malays making up the majority of the victims.

In his speech at a security briefing event with community leaders in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, Ahmad Zahid said there was nothing wrong with arresting the over 40,000 known gangsters in the country, half of whom are Indians.

“What is the situation of robbery victims, murder victims during shootings? Most of them are our Malays. Most of them are our race,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini on Monday, based on a 20-minute audio recording of the speech.

“I think the best way is that we no longer compromise with them. There is no need to give them any more warning. If (we) get the evidence, (we) shoot first,” he added, referring to suspected criminals.

The home minister came under heavy criticism from lawyers, human rights activists and politicians from both sides of the divide since word of his “shoot first” statement spread on the internet.

The latest criticism came from global rights group Human Rights Watch, whose Asia deputy director Phil Robertson demanded that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak immediately sack Ahmad Zahid for condoning “illegal use of lethal force”.

Robertson said a “shoot first” policy in dealing with the over 40,000 suspected gang members, whom Ahmad Zahid claimed are mostly Indian, showed a gross indifference for the life and rights of the country’s minority population.

Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim also called for Ahmad Zahid’s sacking, arguing that a “shoot first” policy is a precursor to Malaysia becoming a “failed state” as it signals that the authorities are the law and that there is no need for investigation and public trial.

Lawyers for Liberty co-founder Latheefa Koya said Ahmad Zahid’s statement “confirmed our worst fears” that the government employs a shoot to kill policy when dealing with suspected criminals.

“He is calling to do murder basically. It is completely wrong, completely illegal… I think he should be investigated immediately,” said Latheefa, who is also PKR legal bureau chief.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Ahmad Zahid’s statement could lead to a “massive shooting spree” by police handling suspected criminals.

MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu noted that the police are liable to make mistakes and abuse a “shoot first” policy, and it will also send the wrong signal to the world that Malaysia is lawless and without rule of law.