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Friday July 23, 2004

Murder attempt on assemblyman

BY MAZWIN NIK ANIS

JOHOR BARU: State assemblyman for Skudai Teo Kok Chee escaped death when he managed to prevent a gunman from pulling the trigger on him in an attempted assassination at a crowded restaurant.

Teo, who is also Johor Gerakan chief, was with some party members for dinner last night when the gunman walked in, tapped him on his shoulder and pointed a gun at his chest.

NONE THE WORSE: Teo describing the incident to a police officer outside the Skudai police station after the attempt on his life.
A scuffle ensued. He fell and ran for cover behind a car while the gunman also took off.

Narrating the incident, Johor Baru North OCPD Senior Asst Comm Wan Ali Abu Shahmah said Teo had gone to a restaurant at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah with 11 state Gerakan committee members and supporters after a meeting at around 9.30pm yesterday.

Twenty minutes later, he said the gunman walked in from behind wearing a full-face helmet and tapped Teo on his shoulder and said:

“You come with me” in Mandarin.

As Teo turned he saw a gun pointed at his chest and he tried to grab it while trying to pull out his own gun from his pocket.

A scuffle ensued and the gunman pushed Teo causing him to fall.

SAC Wan Ali said Teo immediately ran and took cover behind a car that was parked 6m from where he was seated in the restaurant.

The gunman then ran towards a motorcycle which was parked about 20m away and fled from the scene.

Police will be questioning witnesses including the Gerakan members, restaurant workers and patrons.

At 10.30pm Teo went to the Skudai police station accompanied by the 11 members to lodge a report.

As at midnight, he was still in the police station.

Teo said he did not know the motive of the attempted assassination and why someone had wanted to kill him.

“I don't want to make wild speculation on what had happened. I am tired. Please let me rest,” he said.

Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye said he received information about the incident but was unclear of the motive of the murder attempt.

“I am waiting for police to give their report.

“Whatever it is, we'll let the police conduct their investigation and give us a full report,” he said.

The incident came just five days after another politician, MCA youth leader Mah Ann Ann, was brutally murdered in Seremban.

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