GEORGE TOWN: Sergeant Norihan Tari, who is recuperating after successfully undergoing surgery last Thursday to remove two of three bullets lodged in his body, continues to show signs of recovery.
State police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan said Norihan, 39, was able to breathe on his own without assistance.
"Norihan is able to consume soft food and drink. He is also able to walk with a walker frame," he said.
In a 3.10am incident last 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.
Norihan was transferred from the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, Kangar to the Penang Hospital the following day to undergo surgery and receive further treatment.
Doctors managed to remove two bullets from him, with a third bullet, located near the spinal cord, still lodged in his body.
On Saturday, Norihan received a visit from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's aide-de-camp Datuk Yahaya Othman.
Yahaya was asked by the King to visit Norihan and send His Majesty's well wishes to him for protecting the country's border.
"Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah also pray that Norihan will recover soon and that his health will improve so that he can continue to serve in future," he was reported as saying.
Yahaya had also presented a "Watikah Wira Negara", a letter of appreciation and personal contribution from the King to Norihan.
Norihan was transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the general ward after showing improvement.