Sarawak police chief Aidi Ismail told FMT this was based on preliminary investigations, adding that they were still probing the shooting.

He said the incident happened at 7.50am at a guard post at the Kota Samarahan base, where three of the personnel were found dead and one badly injured.

The injured man was taken to the Sarawak Heart Centre for treatment but died at 9.25am, he said.

“Forensic teams from the state police headquarters and Sarawak General Hospital are at the scene. Investigations are ongoing,” he said.

Aidi also said the incident had been classified as a murder case, with the probe being conducted under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Bernama later reported that Samarahan police chief Sudirman Kram had identified the dead as Corporal Ho Swee Boon from Lundu; Cpl Mohamad Ehsan Sehamat from Asajaya; Cpl Sharif Mohd Siddiq Al-Attas Wan Sabli from Kuching; and Aircraftman Luk Nesly anak Nabau from Sibu.

He said an initial investigation found that Ho had gone on a rampage and entered the guard station at the Handau Squadron 330 camp and had taken the firearms there.

There were several other RMAF personnel at the guard station at that time, he said.

“Ho had asked them whether they wanted to live or die.

“Sharif tried to calm him down but Ho fired a shot that hit Sharif in the stomach, prompting the others to run for safety,” he said in a statement here today.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force said they would set up an investigation board to ascertain the cause of the incident.