KUCHING – Four Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel died in a shooting incident at their camp in Kota Samarahan here this morning.
Speaking to The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran, Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said one of the personnel is believed to have shot his three colleagues dead before killing himself.
The suspect had gone on a rampage after entering the guard station at the Handau Squadron 330 camp and taking firearms there.
There were several other RMAF personnel at the guard station at the time, Aidi said.
“The suspect had even asked them whether they wanted to live or die. One tried to calm him down, but the suspect fired a shot that hit him in the stomach, prompting the others to run for safety,” he said in a statement today.
According to Getaran, the suspect was married and may have been put under quarantine.
He had served with the air force for the last 10 years. It is understood that he was previously stationed at the air force base in Kuantan.
Aidi said three of the deceased, including the suspect himself, died at the location of the incident.
One of them was rushed to the Kota Samarahan Heart Centre with critical injuries. However, he was confirmed dead at 9.15am.
Forensic units from the state police headquarters and Sarawak Hospital have arrived at the site.
“Investigations are still being conducted to determine the motive behind this incident,” said Aidi.
The air force in a statement said the shooting occurred at 7.15am at its Kota Samarahan unit while the personnel were on duty.
It urged all parties not to speculate on the incident.
“The air force will establish an investigative panel to determine the cause of the incident.” – The Vibes, August 13, 2021
