PETALING JAYA: It is vital for policemen to stick to guidelines they have been taught to avoid any major controversy, such as what had happened when a teenage motorcyclist was killed in Durian Tunggal in Melaka, said a former senior cop.

Former deputy commissioner of police Datuk Zulkifli Mohamed said it is essential for police personnel to maintain their composure and control their emotions when faced with adverse situations.

He was commenting on the detention of a 37-year-old traffic policeman over the death of a motorcyclist who was involved in a fatal collision with a police vehicle.

A comprehensive probe should be carried out to determine if the policemen had observed police standard operating procedure (SOP), Zulkifli said.“He was probably at the wrong place at the wrong time. Things can go wrong if the SOP is not observed.

“They might be doing the right thing but it might be the wrong way (to do it).

“All personnel should follow the SOP. If they do not, it can put them in a tough spot when such tragedy occurs.

“We hope the policeman will be treated fairly with all the factors he had to face on that fateful day,” said Zulkifli.

Criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research said a fair and transparent investigation must be conducted to study the events that led to the motorcyclist’s death.

“The policeman had responded to a public complaint and gone over to carry out his duties but tragedy struck.

“In my view, both the policeman and the teenager are victims of this unfortunate event. “Both should be treated fairly to ensure justice is served. A competent task force should thoroughly examine the cause of the crash.”

This article first appeared on The Star.