A son of a FELDA settler was injured after being shot by a group of men believed to be cattle smugglers during an attempted theft in Kemahang 1 in the early hours of the morning.
The incident, which occurred around 3am, involved the victim, a man in his 40s, who was asleep when four to five suspects reportedly entered the village to steal livestock belonging to residents. The situation quickly escalated after the victim became aware of the intrusion.
A source said the commotion alerted nearby villagers, who rushed out of their homes and attempted to surround the suspects. However, the group responded by firing several gunshots, one of which struck the victim in the cheek.
The injured man was rushed to the district hospital and is currently reported to be in stable condition. Authorities are still working to obtain official statements, with attempts underway to reach both the Kelantan police chief and the Tanah Merah district police chief for further comments.
Preliminary information suggests the suspects may be linked to a cattle smuggling syndicate operating along the Malaysia–Thailand border. They are also believed to have local accomplices who assist in stealing livestock for resale, reflecting ongoing concerns about cross-border criminal activities in rural communities.
The victim’s father, Abdul Kadir Mohamad, 73, said he received news of the shooting at about 7am while at home with his wife, Siti Zabedah Besar, 64, and their son, Amirul Akil. He said a friend had called to inform them that his eldest son, Mohamad Khairi Amri, 42, had been shot and was receiving treatment at Hospital Tanah Merah.
“I was told he was hit in the cheek and chin. We were shocked when we heard the news,” he said when met at their home in Kampung Kemahang 1.
Abdul Kadir added that his son has been working as a caretaker for villagers’ cattle for the past seven to eight years, managing around 20 cows. He typically tends to the livestock at a cattle shed in Lalang Pepuyu, about 10km from their home, making it part of his daily routine.
Meanwhile, Amirul Akil said around 40 villagers rushed to assist his brother after hearing the disturbance. He added that witnesses saw five to six suspects arriving on motorcycles before attempting to steal the cattle, but the group managed to flee the scene.
