Police have confirmed today that the suspect who shot a businessman and two others at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Highway here yesterday is mentally-ill.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said, initial investigations revealed that the 35-year-old bodyguard had once served with the Territorial Army before and had no criminal record.

At the same time, he said, police have also arrested another suspect, aged 32, also a bodyguard of Datuk Ong Teik Kwong, to help in investigation.

He added that the suspect with mental problem has a license to handle fire arms and police believed he is also connected to a secret society.

Khalid said this to reporters at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) after signing a memorandum of agreement on joint forensic science training between the Royal Malaysian Police and USM.

In the incident at about 7.15pm yesterday, the victims shot dead were identified as Datuk Ong Teik Kwang, Senthil Murugiah and Choi Hon Ming.

Also hurt were four civilians, including an RTM cameraman Muhammad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amir.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Khalid saying one of the men was arrested at the scene last night and the other at the Penang Hospital where he sought treatment late last night.

The two have been remanded for seven days from today on an order issued by George Town Sessions Court senior assistant registrar Ahmad Tajuddin Zain, he added.

Khalid said investigation revealed that the firearm used in the shooting was registered with a security firm.