Tragic scene: Police investigating the site of the brazen gun-related attack in front of a mall in Cheras.
KUALA LUMPUR: Two men were gunned down in front of a shopping mall at Jalan Loke Yew in Cheras here.
The incident occurred at 12.48am yesterday as the victims were heading to their car, which was parked nearby.
A group of men wearing black ski masks pulled up at the scene in a multi-purpose vehicle and fired shots at the victims.
This follows another gun-related attack at a restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields here on Sunday.
In the 10.50pm incident, three local men, aged between 30 and 50, were eating with several friends before being approached by two men who arrived on a motorcycle.
The suspects fired several shots at the group, killing a man and injuring two people.
The two shootings were due to ongoing hostilities between the victims and suspects, said police.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa assured the public that they need not worry about their safety.
“The two shooting cases were a result of problems occurring elsewhere and were brought to Kuala Lumpur.
“In the Cheras case, both victims, who had criminal records, had just arrived from Sibu for personal reasons.
“We are not ruling out the possibility that they were followed by those with a grudge prior to the shooting. Both victims were suspected of being involved in smuggling activities in Sarawak as well as murders,” he said.
Meanwhile, Comm Rusdi said the case in Brickfields involved problems between the victims and their enemies in Selangor.
“We believe the suspects chose the moment when the victims were at the restaurant to launch their attack,” he said.
While both incidents were caused by problems elsewhere, Comm Rusdi said the Criminal Investigation Department and all sections within the police force remain committed to investigating the cases and ensuring that justice is served.
“I hope society will continue to cooperate with the police by sharing information to curb crime in the city,” he added.
He said the police have mobilised all of its resources to track down the suspects in both cases.