PUTRAJAYA: The late Datuk Shaharuddin Ibrahim was a high calibre and dedicated senior officer, said director-general of Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad.
Referring to his deputy Shaharuddin who was shot dead yesterday morning, he said the Customs Department lost a senior officer who was highly respected by friends and society.
“His death is a great misfortune for the Customs Department. On behalf of the department, I send condolences to his family and seek their patience,” he said when met at Putrajaya Hospital here yesterday.
Customs deputy director-general Shaharuddin was shot dead by two men on motorcycles while on the way to his office here at 8.15am yesterday.
Meanwhile, Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman said civil servants, particularly those in the Customs Department, should not be discouraged by the incident.
When met at Putrajaya Hospital, he said that civil servants especially those in uniformed units often faced many challenges during the course of their work.
“We hope that all customs staff do not lose heart. Keep working with responsibility and implement it with integrity,” he said admitting that he knew Shaharuddin personally.
Omar said Shaharuddin was dedicated, friendly and approachable adding Cuepacs held talks with uniformed bodies two days to discuss their welfare.
Shaharuddin was representing the Customs Department.
Cuepacs financial secretary Ja’apar Mansor and an official of Peninsular Malaysia Customs Officers Union said the job of a customs officer is very challenging.
Ja’apar who knew Saharuddin since the 1980s said customs officers had been threatened, rammed into by car, assaulted and their houses splashed with paint but this was the most serious case.
Also present at Putrajaya Hospital is the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Putrajaya parliamentary seat, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. — Bernama