Man cheats death by reclining car seat during shooting outside school

Summary

• Penang police chief recounts how businessperson’s quick thinking helped him dodge five bullets.

• He says the businessperson is a former gang member.

The businessperson who survived Tuesday’s shooting outside a primary school in Sungai Nyior, Penang, escaped with his life by fully reclining the driver’s seat as five bullets tore into his vehicle.

Penang deputy police chief Alwi Zainal Abidin said the man had initially reclined the driver’s seat only halfway while waiting for his child to finish school.

“According to the man, he saw a motorcycle speeding towards his vehicle and immediately reclined the driver’s seat until it was flat, causing the shots fired by the two suspects to miss him,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

“Police are conducting further investigations, and we do not rule out the possibility that the victim knows the two men who fired the shots, even though he has denied this,” he said.

Alwi said the man, in his 40s, has four previous criminal records.

Gang member no more

Malay Mail Online reported Alwi as stating that initial investigations revealed that the man was previously a gang member but is no longer involved in such activities.

“We have formed a task force to carry out a detailed investigation into the case, including efforts to track down the two men who fired the shots,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.

Alwi reassured the public that despite the incident occurring in front of a school, the situation is fully under control.

“We have increased security measures,” he said.

In the 5.40pm incident on Tuesday, two suspects on a motorcycle fired shots at the man’s front window.

The man escaped unhurt.

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