KOTA SAMARAHAN: A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) serviceman ran amok and shot three colleagues before shooting himself at the RMAF Handau Guard Station Squadron 330, here this morning (Aug 13).
The 7.15am incident resulted in the death of three personnel at the scene including the suspect. The two servicemen who were manning the guard station at the time of the incident died of gunshot wounds at their back and right chest. The suspect is believed to have committed suicide by shooting himself at the scene.
Another personnel who tried to calm the suspect down during the incident, was shot in the abdomen and succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the Sarawak Heart Centre at 9am.
Kota Samarahan police chief DSP Sudirman Kram who confirmed the shooting, explained that the incident happened when the suspect from Lundu, arrived at the guard station and took a gun.
“There were eight personnel present at the station during a handing over of duties. The suspect was seen loading the ammunition magazine into the gun.
“One of the victims tried to calm the suspect down but the suspect shot him in his right abdomen. The suspect also shot two other victims in the back and right chest.
“Following the gunshots fired, the five other servicemen at the guard station fled to save themselves,” he said.
Sudirman added that the suspect, with over 10 years of service in the RMAF, was married and supposed to be under quarantine.
Initial investigations found that the suspect did not have any social problems among his friends, however, the suspect’s personal problems were not known.
Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief SAC Lukas Aket said the cause and motive of the shooting are currently being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the RMAF informed that a Board of Inquiry will be established to investigate the cause of the incident.
“The case has been handed over to the police for investigations.
“We urge all parties not to make speculations until the investigation process is complete,” the spokesperson said.
Today’s event was not the first time servicemen had run amok. In 1987, Adam Jaafar or ‘Private Adam’ became notorious when he went amok in Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur.
The 23-year-old Ranger Regiment sharpshooter travelled to Kuala Lumpur at a time when political tension was high, and started shooting people with an M16 assault rifle he had stolen from his army camp in Ipoh.
Private Adam, who died at the age of 57 early this year, also shot at cars and a petrol station fuel tank which burst into flames.
The incident resulted in one death from a bullet ricochet while several other persons were injured.
On May 8 this year, a former soldier was shot dead after he attacked the 4th Battalion Border Regiment control post in Gerik, Ipoh.
Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the 35-year-old man, armed with a parang, had entered the army premises by climbing the fence at the front gate at 6.45pm.
“Soldiers at the guard post issued a warning for him to stop but he acted aggressively by attacking them with his weapon.
“In the ensuing struggle, the soldiers shot the man, who was then taken to Gerik Hospital by police. He was pronounced dead on arrival,” he said in a statement.
Investigations showed that the man joined the army in 2003 but his service was terminated in 2013 because he had mental health problems.
In Dec 2016, a bodyguard with military background reportedly ran amok and shot four people on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang.
The suspect who was in his late 30s, was also said to be “mentally ill”, although the police did not specify his illness. Three people were killed, and four injured during the incident.
