THE son of Malaysian actor AR Badul died today after being shot during a commando demonstration at the Lok Kawi Army Base Camp in Sabah.

Major Mohd Zahir Armaya, 36, died about 9.20am after he was shot by a fellow officer at 8.55am at a shooting demonstration in conjunction with the establishment of the fifth division today.

He died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital about 14km from the army base camp.

It is learnt Zahir was playing the role of a terrorist armed with a samurai sword and a gun. He had fired a live bullet in the direction of the Fifth Division team and 14th Brigade Infantry and an officer had returned fire.

Zahir, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, fell to the ground. The shot from behind had missed the target and hit the upper bullet-proof vest plate worn by Zahir.

Zahir was carried to the edge of the marching field soaked in blood. He was given first aid by the  officers before he was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s emergency unit.

He was unresponsive by then.

The body will undergo a post-mortem at the hospital before it is brought to Masjid As-Salam at the Lok Kawi army camp for prayers

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu conveyed his condolences to Zahir’s family.

“It is my hope the family of allaharyam will remain strong in this sorrowful time and we at the Ministry of Defence would like to express our sympathy and sadness,” he said.

“I hope no one will speculate over what has happened and wait instead for the post-mortem report, and that the privacy of Zahir’s family will be respected.”

Zahir was attached to Sungai Udang camp in Malacca. – September 4, 2019.