Penang police chief Hamzah Ahmad said the 35-year-old man, who had 34 criminal and narcotics convictions, was confirmed dead at the scene of the 4.03am incident.

He said police found the suspect driving a BMW in a suspicious manner while on patrol. When approached by police, he exited his car and fired several gunshots in their vehicle’s direction.

“The police team fired several shots in self-defence,” Harian Metro reported Hamzah as saying.

Hamzah said items found at the scene included an FNP-45 pistol with three bullets, a steel bar, a rotan, a parang and 22.5g of crystals believed to be methamphetamine.

“A piece of equipment believed to be a signal jammer as well as clothes and tools, believed to be for housebreaking, were also found.

“The suspect had a record of 19 criminal and 15 narcotics convictions,” he said.

Hamzah said police also arrested eight other people separately for suspected involvement in criminal activity with the suspect, four of whom have criminal records.

“The group has been taken down, and police have solved 25 cases of burglary and break-ins of homes and laundromats in Penang, with RM500,000 in estimated total losses.

“An investigation paper has been opened under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1960 for the unlawful possession of firearms, which provides for seven years’ imprisonment,” he said.