The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has ordered an inquest into the deaths of three men shot dead during a police operation at an oil palm plantation in Durian Tunggal, Melaka on November 24, 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The three men, aged 21, 24, and 29, were shot after one of them allegedly attacked a police corporal with a parang/machete in an incident that occurred between 4:00 and 4:30 am [2, 3, 4]. The police corporal, in his early 30s, sustained serious injuries to his left arm during the attack [3, 4].
Melaka police have said the men were gang robbers en route to a burglary when intercepted by officers [2]. However, lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, representing the victims' families, disputed this account. He cited post-mortem reports showing two victims were shot in the head and one in the chest from close range, challenging the police version of events [1]. Police sources maintain the men were shot after attacking officers and do not specifically dispute the locations of wounds [2, 3, 4].
The AGC decision to hold the inquest follows a thorough review and resubmission of investigation papers by the Royal Malaysia Police, including additional instructions and interviews with 63 witnesses [3, 4]. The inquest will be conducted under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, aiming to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the deaths and whether any criminal elements were involved [1, 2, 3, 4].
Attorney General’s Chambers said, “The decision to hold the inquest reflects the department's commitment to ensuring that all relevant facts and circumstances are examined thoroughly, transparently, and independently in accordance with the requirements of the law” [3]. The department also stated it is committed to ensuring all legal actions are carried out fairly and professionally [1, 4].
On May 26, 2026, Bukit Aman CID director Datuk M. Kumar announced police had resubmitted completed investigation papers to the AGC after complying with additional instructions [3, 4]. The AGC officially announced the inquest would be held on July 20, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
The inquest is now set to examine all evidence, including the disputed wound details and police actions, to clarify what happened during the early morning operation at the Durian Tunggal plantation.
