BUTTERWORTH: Police have shot dead two men, wanted in connection with a criminal intimidation case in Penang, in an incident near Bukit Mengkuang in Kubang Semang here.

       The shootout occurred at 5.50am on Thursday (Sept 16) when police spotted a grey Proton Waja driven by the two suspects, both foreigners, on Jalan Penanti.

       Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the suspects were ordered to stop but sped away before stopping by a bushy area on the hill.

       He said the suspect in the front passenger seat got out of the car and fired two shots at the police while the driver rushed at them with a parang.

       Mohd Shuhaily said the two suspects acted aggressively and police fired at them in self-defence, killing both men.

       According to Mohd Shuhaily, no police personnel were injured in the incident but one shot fired by the suspect hit the side mirror of a police car.

       “The two suspects, estimated to be in their 30s or 40s, were wanted by the police following their involvement in a case of criminal intimidation in Bukit Mertajam on Sept 12.

       “Through Ops Api Siakap, we managed to track down the suspects but in the exchange of fire, both were confirmed dead at the scene.

       "As a result of the inspection on their car, we found heroin and housebreaking equipment in the boot.

       “We also seized a pistol containing six bullets and a parang used by the suspects in the incident," he said.

       Mohd Shuhaily added that the identities of the two suspects have not been verified as there were no identification documents on them.

       “The car they were in was reported missing on Aug 29 last year in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

       "The bodies of the two suspects were sent to Seberang Jaya Hospital for autopsy," he said.