Police in Malaysia have arrested a 71-year-old man following a shooting at a restaurant in Johor that left three people dead on Sunday afternoon.
The incident took place at about 1:30pm on 19th April in Taman Kota Jaya, Kota Tinggi. Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said district police received reports of the shooting at a restaurant in the area.
Two Malaysian men and a foreign woman, aged between 37 and 63, were believed to have been killed with a shotgun. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene from suspected shotgun wounds.
The suspect, a Malaysian national, was arrested at about 2pm, roughly 200 metres from the scene. Police seized a Benelli M/Super shotgun with serial number M104817, which is believed to have been used in the attack.
“Based on preliminary police investigations, the incident does not involve terrorism or organised crime,” Ab Rahaman said.
He added that authorities are investigating the possibility of a personal motive. “This incident does not involve organised crime or terrorism, and we do not rule out the possibility that the motive may be related to personal debt issues,” he said in a statement issued this evening.
Ab Rahaman confirmed the suspect has no prior criminal record and holds a valid firearm licence. The man is a farmer with agricultural land, which qualifies him for a licence issued by the Royal Malaysia Police to protect crops from pests and other threats.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. The offence carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, not less than 12 strokes of the cane.
Police will apply for a remand order at the Kota Tinggi Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Authorities have urged the public not to speculate and to provide any information by contacting the nearest police station or the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or 07-2212999.
The victims were two local men and a foreign woman aged between 37 and 63, while the suspect is a 71-year-old Malaysian man who was arrested about 200 metres from the scene. He has no criminal record and holds a valid firearms licence. The weapon recovered was a Benelli M/Super shotgun with serial number M104817. Police have said the motive may be linked to personal debt issues, although no connection to terrorism or organised crime has been identified at this stage. The shooting took place at a restaurant in Taman Kota Jaya, Kota Tinggi, Johor.
Witnesses in the business area reported hearing loud explosions, which some initially mistook for firecrackers. A short video of the incident circulated on social media shortly after the event.
Reports suggest the suspect may have driven to another restaurant and sat down after the shooting, although police have not confirmed details of his movements.
Police arrested the suspect within about 30 minutes of receiving the report. Authorities said investigations are ongoing and urged the public to remain calm as evidence is gathered.
The case has drawn attention in Malaysia, where firearm licences for farmers are issued under strict conditions and are rarely linked to public incidents. Police have not released the names of the victims or the suspect, and no prior disputes involving those involved have been disclosed.
Further updates are expected following the remand application on Monday, when more details about the sequence of events may emerge.
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