JOHOR BARU: Police are probing potential negligence after Datuk Tan Lek Khang was accidentally wounded by his own weapon during a Tuesday shooting drill.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the 40-year-old victim’s two pistols, magazines and bullets were seized and sent for ballistic testing.
“We are probing whether the misfire was due to negligence on the victim’s or the coach’s part and whether standard operating procedures were followed throughout the exercise,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Ab Rahaman was asked whether any criminal elements were linked to the alleged misfire, in which the former Johor Bersatu associate wing chief discharged a shot from his semi-automatic pistol that struck his left chest.
The incident was said to have taken place at the Ladang REM shooting range in Kota Tinggi at around 3.30pm on Tuesday.
“The victim had just completed his training exercise and was in the process of emptying his pistol’s chamber when he accidentally discharged a shot.
“The victim was unconscious when he was sent to the emergency and trauma unit at Hospital Kota Tinggi.
“He was then transferred to Hospital Sultan Ismail for surgery to remove the bullet,” he said, adding that Tan is stable.
He said police recorded statements from his shooting coach, five bodyguards, two friends and his 19-year-old stepson.
Comm Ab Rahaman added that the Tan had a valid firearms licence issued in 2022 for personal safety and sports and legally owns two pistols and a shotgun.
The case is being investigated under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960 for causing injury with a pistol without a valid reason and Section 337 of the Penal Code for causing hurt by an act that endangers life or personal safety.
Tan is currently under observation in the hospital’s intensive care unit following surgery.
Tan, a former state election candidate for the Bekok state seat, relinquished his party position and announced his resignation from the party on Feb 13 after citing a loss of confidence in Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the party president and the party’s leadership as a whole.
