A Palestinian lecturer of a private university was shot dead as he was walking to a surau near a condominium in Jalan Meranti, Setapak, in Kuala Lumpur early today, according to police.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said the 35-year-old man was shot by one of two men on a high-powered motorcycle at the pedestrian walkway there at about 6am.

The Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia identified the victim as Fadi Al Batsh.

“The suspect fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer in the head and body. He died on the spot. The police also found two empty bullet shells there,” he said to reporters at the location.

Mazlan said the lecturer had also served as an imam at a mosque near the condominium where he had lived with his wife and three children.

Mazlan said a recording of a closed-circuit television camera near the scene showed the two assailants waiting for about 20 minutes for Batsh to emerge from the condominium.

"We believe the lecturer was their target, because two other individuals walked by the place earlier unharmed. We will view the recordings of all the CCTV in the area to identify the suspects and get the registration number of the motorcycle,” he said.

He said the police were looking into the motive for the killing from all angles, including the possible involvement of Islamic State terrorists.

Mazlan appealed to eyewitnesses to help the police to identify the suspects.

The lecturer’s body was sent to the Selayang Hospital.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old Egyptian friend of Batsh, who declined to be identified, said he wondered why the lecturer had not turned up at the surau where he usually performed the dawn prayers.

"I went to the condominium to look for him after the prayers and was surprised to learn that he had been shot dead,” he said to reporters at the scene.

He said Batsh had lived in Malaysia for 10 years and had moved into the condominium recently.

"As far as I know, he had no problems with anyone because he was friendly with everybody, regardless of race,” he said.

A crowd had gathered in front of the condominium and people were seen pushing their way forward to the spot where the lecturer was shot.

Victim identified

Palestinian ambassador Anwar H Al Agha said Batsh had stayed with his wife and three children, aged one, five and six, at the condominium near where he was shot. 

“I was shocked at the news because Batsh was a good man who had no enemies. He was a quiet person and was good to everyone. I am surprised that this has happened,” he said to reporters when approached at the scene of the incident in Jalan Meranti.

The envoy said he will leave it the authorities to investigate the case.

It is learned that Batsh did his doctorate in engineering at Universiti Malaya before taking up the post of lecturer at a private university.

- Bernama