SEBERANG PRAI: A man was shot dead while another arrested by police early this morning in Nibong Tebal following a car chase, police said.
The shooting occurred at about 5am near Jalan Sungai Daun after a police motorcycle patrol unit spotted the duo behaving suspiciously in a car.
When the policemen approached them, Seberang Prai Selatan police chief Superintendent Shafee Abd Samad said the suspects tried to ram them before speeding off.
"The suspects were heading towards Jalan Sungai Duri with the patrol unit tailing close behind until Jalan Seruling Emas.
"At a traffic light junction near Sungai Bakap's Petronas petrol station, a police patrol car appeared and attempted to intercept the suspects' vehicle. However, they knocked into the patrol car and sped off again," he said.
Shafee said at that juncture, the motorcycle unit arrived at the area and ordered them to stop but to no avail.
"The policemen had no choice but to fire two shots at the front and rear tyres. Another three rounds were fired after the suspects still refused to stop the vehicle," he said.
Shafee said after the shots, the car then skidded and crashed into a drain by the roadside.
"Upon inspection, the team found the driver killed inside the car. They also managed to apprehend his friend," he added.
Checks showed that both men had previous drug-related criminal records.