Royal Malaysian Customs deputy director-general Shaharuddin Ibrahim was shot dead while on his way to work in Putrajaya today, reports Bernama .

Shaharuddin, 58, who lived in Dengkil, Selangor, was confirmed dead at the Putrajaya Hospital at 9.20am.

Kuala Lumpur Crime Investigation Department head Ku Chin Wah said two men on a motorcycle fired three shots at a four-wheel-drive vehicle in which Shaharuddin was travelling at a traffic light junction when it was heading towards Lebuh Wawasan, from Lebuh Sentosa at about 8.15am.

The shots hit Shaharuddin on the neck and head and he was then rushed to the Putrajaya Hospital by his driver, he told reporters when met at the scene.

Shaharuddin was believed to have been shot with an automatic hand-gun.

Ku said police would obtain footage of the closed-circuit television camera in the vicinity to assist in the investigation and also urged those with information on the incident to contact the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, Shaharuddin’s cousin, Roslan Ibrahim, 51, who was met while accompanying Shaharuddin’s family members at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), believed that there was a connection between Shaharuddin’s murder and his job with the Customs.

Shaharuddin’s body was sent to HKL for a post-mortem.

“We met often for a drink and the last time was last Sunday, but he never discussed his job or ever mentioned having received threats,” he added, according to Bernama .

‘It’s not related to the general election’

Meanwhile, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said that Bukit Aman police headquarters had already formed a special team to investigate the matter.

However, he stressed that this incident has nothing to do with the ongoing general election.

“We see this case as an isolated case, we don’t have any further information, so I don’t want the public to continue to worry,” he told a press conference at the General Operations Force northern brigade after attending the National Sovereignty Award ceremony at Ulu Kinta, Ipoh this afternoon.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who also attended the event, said in his speech that he strongly condemned the murder and hoped the police will take action as soon as possible.

“It’s because the safety of the public servant must be protected,” he stressed.