Tumpat district police chief Khairi Shafie said General Operations Force personnel were patrolling the area around 7.10am and noticed a car being driven in a suspicious manner.

They tailed the vehicle before it stopped on a road shoulder. However, as policemen approached the car, the driver suddenly reversed the vehicle towards them.

“The policemen were surprised by the suspect’s action but managed to dodge the vehicle. They then fired a shot to stop the driver.

“However, the suspect proceeded to drive away and fled before the vehicle was found abandoned one kilometre from the scene,” Bernama quoted him as saying in a statement.

Khairi said police found 22 plastic drums containing petrol, which were likely being smuggled to a neighbouring country.

“The police also found a pair of black gloves on the footrest of the driver’s seat and lifted three fingerprints on the front passenger mirror of the vehicle, in addition to the gunshot mark on the rear tyre rim,” he said.

“The vehicle and the drums of petrol have been taken to Komtek Kuala Jambu for further action while the case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.”

Khairi said preliminary investigations confirmed that the original owner of the vehicle was in Johor and efforts to trace and arrest the suspect were underway.