KUALA LUMPUR — The recent spate of public shootings has unsettled many Malaysians, but veteran crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim believes such attacks are rarely random — and that most victims are deliberately targeted.
Speaking on the Scoop Insight podcast, Kamal said that in almost every case, the assailant has a clear objective.
“All these shootings are targeted. It’s not random. That’s the essence of the crime,” he said, noting that public perception often misconstrues the nature of such incidents.
Kamal explained that perpetrators typically spend time gathering intelligence before striking, often receiving detailed descriptions of their intended victims.
“Someone will pass you the information — he’s wearing a cap, he’s in a white shirt. You’re focused, tunnel-visioned. You’re locked on one person, not a crowd,” he said.
He categorised victims of violent crime into three types: victim by chance (wrong place, wrong time); victim by choice (deliberately targeted); and compliant victim (those whose relationships with perpetrators place them at risk).
“In almost all public shootings, we’re looking at victims by choice,” he said.
That said, Kamal acknowledged that bystanders may sometimes get caught in the crossfire.
“What if I took a shot at you and the bullet hit someone else? That’s collateral damage. It’s not intended, but you become a victim because of proximity,” he said.
These targeted attacks, Kamal stressed, are often calculated to minimise risk for the shooter. “They know the time, the address, who they’re after. The person has already been marked. They’re not looking at anyone else,” he said.
He urged the public to increase their awareness of how criminals operate, arguing that understanding victim selection could reduce personal risk.
“When you know how criminals choose their targets, you can make yourself harder to attack. That awareness could one day save your life,” he said.
The former police officer also emphasised the importance of recognising patterns behind violent crime.
“These attacks might happen in public, but they are neither random nor unpredictable. They are deliberate, calculated acts against specific individuals,” he said, urging Malaysians to be more situationally aware and proactive about their safety.
“Criminals have tunnel vision,” he repeated. “They’re not trying to terrorise the whole crowd. They’re after one person. Understanding that makes all the difference — it’s the first step to staying safe.”
Kamal’s remarks come after a series of fatal shootings in June that shook the Klang Valley.
On June 13, two men on a motorcycle opened fire outside a restaurant in Brickfields, killing one and injuring two others. Five individuals were detained and later released on bail after their statements were recorded. Police are probing possible links to organised crime.
Four days later, two men in their 40s were gunned down in a separate attack outside a shopping complex along Jalan Loke Yew, Cheras. The masked assailants fired from inside a vehicle and fled the scene. Police have recorded statements from 19 witnesses and are investigating the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Authorities believe both incidents are the result of internal conflicts within organised criminal networks. Then-Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain maintained that neither shooting was random and assured the public that Kuala Lumpur remains safe.
A third incident occurred on June 20 in Meru, Klang, where a man was fatally shot in front of a motorcycle shop. Multiple shots were fired into the victim’s vehicle in what police described as a meticulously planned hit. — July 21, 2025