MUALLIM: A robbery suspect opened fire at police while his partner attacked them with a machete after a 4km car chase at Jalan Proton City-Tanjung Malim near Kampung Kelawar here, according to state police.
Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Zulkafli Sariaat said the suspects were shot dead by the police during the shootout that occurred at around 5.20am yesterday about 8km from Tanjung Malim.
“One of our mobile patrol vehicle teams spotted the suspects’ car on the road and ordered them to stop for inspection.
“The suspects however sped away, sparking the car chase,” he told a press conference at the district police headquarters here yesterday.
“During the chase, the suspects’ car veered off the road and crashed, before one of them fired a shot and hit the police car.
“The first suspect alighted from the car and opened fire again, hitting the police car’s headlight.
“The second suspect then rushed out of the car with a machete and tried to attack the policemen.
“Police fired two shots at the first suspect and another shot at the second suspect in self defence. Both died at the scene,” DCP Zulkafli added.
He said the suspects were aged 29 and 37 and both had a criminal record – the younger suspect for 20 offences and the other with three.
“They were believed to be on their way to a target’s house.
“They were part of a group that has been active in the district since early 2023,” he said, adding that at least four members from the group have been identified.
“Their modus operandi involves breaking into homes, robbing the victim and threatening them against lodging police reports.
“They would threaten to find the victims at their workplace if they lodged reports.
“We are now trying to locate the other members of the group,” he added.
DCP Zulkafli said the police seized a Sig Sauer pistol, a round of 9mm ammunition in a magazine, two machetes, a bolt cutter, two fake car number plates, six bullet slugs and two ski masks and gloves.
He added that the case would be investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code, Section 8 of the Firearms Act (Increased Penalties), and Section 8 of the Arms Act.
“We believe that we have solved 20 gang robbery and 10 break-in cases in Tanjung Malim.
“We urge the public to continue forwarding crime-related information to us so that action can be taken,” he said, adding that robbery victims should not be afraid to lodge police reports.
DCP Zulkafli also warned criminals not to threaten the safety of policemen or the public.
“We have advanced technology that allows us to track them down.
“We call on all criminals to cease their activities and surrender.”
