The motorcyclist, aged 63, fired shots at police after they stopped him for an inspection at 3.10am, Johor police chief M Kumar said.

He said a team from the serious crimes division of the state’s criminal investigation department, which was on a patrol, found a man riding a motorcycle suspiciously on Jalan Persiaran Bumi Hijau in Taman Molek.

“Police tailed the motorcyclist and stopped him. The suspect suddenly fired several shots at them.

“Police returned fire, killing the man at the scene,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

Kumar said police found a Smith & Wesson pistol on the ground near the suspect, together with four live rounds and two bullet casings.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, and Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for discharging a firearm in committing a scheduled offence.