KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities were more concerned about the safety of civilians in the shooting at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday than apprehending the gunman.
Selangor Police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the priority was to ensure the people's safety, especially when there were children in the vicinity.
"If police had engaged with the suspect, the situation could be worse," he said at an appointment ceremony at the KLIA district police headquarters here today.
At the ceremony, Assistant Commissioner Azman Shari'at was appointed as the new KLIA district police chief, replacing Senior Assistant Commissioner Imran Abd Rahman, who transferred to the Federal Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK).
Hussein was responding to a question on why the police did not arrest the suspect on the day of the incident following a criminal intimidation case lodged by the woman several months ago.
Yesterday, at 1.20am, a man fired two shots at his wife at the entrance of the KLIA arrival hall but missed, hitting one of her two bodyguards instead.
The suspect fled in his car, which was parked at the airport's parking lot. Hussein said the suspect was arrested earlier this year for criminal intimidation and remanded for three days.
He added that the investigations were still ongoing and would be referred to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) for further action.
He said at that time, the police did not see the threat as significant because every domestic violence case has its own stages.
Yesterday, Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said police had launched a manhunt and urged the suspect Hafizul Harawi, 38, to turn himself in.
He added that police had roped in CID personnel in neighbouring states and border security personnel for the operation.
Separately, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Hussain said the police were still gathering information about Harawi from his family members.
"We are gathering the necessary information to locate his whereabouts. Even the smallest piece of information received is crucial in tracking down the suspect," he told BH today.
