From Brickfields to Cheras: Unpacking KL's recent spate of gun violence
SHAH ALAM – Gun violence is seldom a topic of discussion due to Malaysia's overall safety and strict laws regarding firearm use.
However, two back-to-back shootings in Kuala Lumpur, one in Cheras and the other in Brickfields, have undoubtedly raised public alarm. While rare in Malaysia, police are intensifying efforts to track down suspects involved in two targeted shootings in Brickfields and Cheras.
Notably, police say both attacks were targeted acts of violence linked to criminal rivalries from outside the city.
Here's a detailed breakdown of what transpired, what the authorities uncovered, and why they insist the capital remains safe.
Gunfire at Brickfields Restaurant
The first shooting took place on a breezy Friday night, June 14, at 10.50pm in a popular dining area along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields.
According to Brickfields district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood, a group of diners, comprising three men aged between 30 and 50, were eating at a restaurant when they were suddenly ambushed by two men on a motorcycle.
The assailants, without warning, opened fire on the group and quickly fled the scene.
Tragically, one of the men died at the scene from gunshot wounds, while the other two victims were rushed to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
One of the victims sustained serious injuries, while the other was treated for minor wounds.
The motive, initially unclear, was later confirmed to stem from a criminal conflict originating in Selangor.
The deceased had reportedly just been released from police remand earlier that day in relation to another related case in Selangor.
'This case originated from a conflict in Selangor. However, the assailants waited for the right opportunity to shoot the victim while he was at a restaurant on Jalan Tun Sambanthan,' Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said. Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa. Bernama FILE PIX
CCTV footage is currently being reviewed and examined. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Midnight Ambush at Cheras Mall
Four days later, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 18, another deadly shooting occurred — this time in Cheras, outside a shopping mall located on Jalan Loke Yew.
According to Kuala Lumpur Deputy Police Chief Datuk Mohamed Yusuf Jan Mohamad, a distress call came in at 12.48am.
When policemen arrived at the scene, they found two local men in their 40s lying on the ground, fatally shot.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had just exited the mall and were heading to their parked car when they were suddenly attacked by masked gunmen.
'The suspects, wearing black ski masks, arrived in a Perodua Alza before opening fire. They fled the scene immediately after the shooting,' Yusuf said.
Tragically, both men died on the spot. Police believe the shooting was tied to criminal smuggling activities in Sibu, Sarawak, and that the victims were being stalked by individuals with grudges or criminal ties from that region.
'The victims had just arrived from Sibu, Sarawak, and were in Kuala Lumpur for personal matters. It is likely they were being followed,' Rusdi also confirmed.
Similar to the Brickfields shooting, this case is also being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Police and authorities are currently working around the clock to track down the suspects of the shooting.
No Cause for Concern, Yet
Despite the alarming proximity of the two shootings in both time and location, police have strongly stated that these were not random acts of violence on random civilians.
'The incidents involved targeted individuals and arose from conflicts that originated outside the capital area,' Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain - BERNAMA FILE PIX
He added that the public need not be concerned, as these were specific feuds between known individuals, not indiscriminate shootings.
'There is no need for public concern, as security around Kuala Lumpur remains under control,' he said, clarifying that police have intensified patrols and operations city-wide in response to the events.
Coordinated Police Response in Full Swing
Rusdi has reiterated that the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID), alongside other police units, has activated all necessary resources to solve both cases swiftly.
'All relevant units have been mobilised to identify and arrest the perpetrators involved,' he said.
The public has been urged to cooperate and share any relevant information that may help in the investigations.
'I urge the public to continue cooperating and sharing information with Kuala Lumpur Police to combat criminal activities and any acts that may compromise public safety,' Rusdi stated.
As of now, the suspects are yet to be named.
Despite increasing concern for public safety, the police force remains adamant about ensuring the public practices calm and composure as the investigation progresses.
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