SEPANG, April 15 — Police refrained from ‘engaging’ the suspect in yesterday’s shooting incident at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 to avoid jeopardising public safety, said Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.
The area where the suspect opened fire was crowded, and engaging him could have led to a more serious incident.
“It was better to let the suspect leave the area and keep members of the public safe. If we had engaged him, there would have been a shootout.
“There were children among the many people there,” he said in response to questions as to why the police did not apprehend the suspect.
Hussein was speaking to the press after witnessing the handover of duties as KLIA district police chief from SAC Imran Abd Rahman to ACP Azman Shari’at today.
He added the police and airport security personnel had responded swiftly to the shooting.
In the 1.20am incident, the suspect fired two shots at his wife at the entrance of the arrival hall but missed, with one shot hitting her bodyguard in the abdomen. He then fled in a car and headed towards the north.
The bodyguard was seriously injured and admitted to hospital, and Hussein said his condition was reported to be stable.
The police said the suspect had a personal vendetta against his wife, and they were in the process of getting a divorce.
The authorities have also recorded statements from 11 witnesses, including the suspect’s wife, policemen, and airport security personnel.
“We will interview several more people, including business partners (of the wife),” he said.
Meanwhile, the police have stepped up the manhunt for the suspect, who is believed to be still in the country.
Police are looking for Hafizul Harawi, 38, to help in investigations.
In George Town, Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the police had increased surveillance and checks to trace the suspect.
In Kota Bharu, Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the police have tightened checks throughout the state, including at the Malaysia-Thailand border areas.
— Bernama
