GEORGE TOWN: Sergeant Norihan Tari, who is recuperating after successfully undergoing surgery on Thursday to remove two of three bullets lodged in his body, is in high spirits.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador told the New Straits Times that Norihan, 39, is recuperating well.
"As of yesterday (Friday), the last bullet near the spinal cord had yet to be removed.
"But the doctors are optimistic that Norihan will fully recover," he said.
Hamid said Norihan's heroic deed would be etched in the Royal Malaysia Police's glorious history.
In the 3.10am incident on Tuesday, Norihan and Sergeant Baharuddin Ramli, who was 54, were engaged in a shootout with smugglers at the Malaysian-Thai border in Perlis.
Baharuddin was shot dead while Norihan was seriously wounded. Both of them were Battalion 3 (Senoi Praaq), Northern Brigade, General Operations Force (GOF) team members, who were on 'Op Benteng' duty.
On Wednesday night, Norihan was transferred from the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, Kangar to the Penang Hospital to undergo surgery and receive further treatment to remove the bullets.
The following day, doctors managed to remove two bullets inside him, with a third bullet still lodged inside.
At noon today, state police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan accompanied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's escort, Datuk Yahaha Othman, who is also from the police, on a visit to Norihan's bedside at the Penang Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU).
Speaking to newsmen later, Sahabudin said Norihan's condition today is much better than yesterday.
He said when he visited Norihan yesterday, he had just regained consciousness and was speaking little.
"Today, his response was swift, we could engage in conversation and he was smiling.
"He was also engaging in a conversation with (Datuk) Yahaya as both of them are from Pahang. They were talking about his (Norihan's) work, family and other things.
"Doctors said he is progressing well and is very strong. His spirits are high.
"Also, he recalled what happened (the shootout incident) when asked by (Datuk) Yahaya and was well aware that his colleague died during the shootout," he added.