RANTAU PANJANG: After 10 years in the police force, a corporal never imagined that a routine anti-drug operation would turn life-threatening when a suspect armed with a parang slashed his left arm.
He said he was part of a police team that raided a house in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu, Tanah Merah, on Oct 17 as part of a special operation to curb drug abuse.
"The suspect and his mother were at the house when we arrived.
"The suspect was in a room when he spotted us entering his house. Armed with a parang, he immediately fled and ran towards the main road."
The corporal said he and his colleagues chased the suspect for about 1km before the man turned on him.
"We approached him, believing he was about to surrender.
"I went close to disarm him and take the parang from his hand.
"Instead, he swung the parang at me and slashed my left arm," said the 37-year-old when met today.
The father of three said the suspect was shirtless and wearing only shorts when the attack happened.
"I felt numbness in my left arm after being slashed. Then I saw blood coming out," he said.
The corporal said it was the first time in his decade-long career that he had faced a life-threatening situation while on duty.
"I am now stable and have been discharged from hospital, but I still need follow-up treatment," he said.
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