Seri Alam district police chief Supt Johkiri Abdul Aziz said police were forced to shoot at the tyres of the vehicle to stop the fleeing suspect, The Star Online reported.

The incident happened about 11am when two policemen tried to stop a car after spotting the driver using his handphone while driving.

“Initially, he obeyed the instruction but then decided to speed off,” he said.

Johkiri said the man rammed into several vehicles parked along the roadside and even tried to run over a policeman.

“He then hit another policeman’s motorcycle, forcing the officer to jump off his machine.

“Our men had to open fire because the suspect not only was a danger to the policemen chasing after him but also the public.”

The vehicle plunged into a drain and the driver was arrested.

The suspect, aged 27, works as a cook in Singapore. Initial investigations show he has a record for robbery and drug-related offences.

He also tested positive for drugs.

Jokhiri warned the public to refrain from spreading false information on social media that the case was related to a child abduction.