Sources from Perak and Penang police said yesterday the first suspect, aged 39, was from Parit Buntar, Perak, while the other, aged 40, was from Nibong Tebal, Penang.

CCTV footage of the car used to ram into the officer’s motorcycle was captured three hours before it was found abandoned and burnt at a banana farm in Ara Kuda in Tasek Gelugor, North Seberang Perai, at 6pm the same day.

“The CCTV grab showed the car had the same number plate as the car that rammed into Lance Corporal Mohd Azuan Abdullah.

“Although the plates were ripped off before the car was burnt and left in Tasek Gelugor, its plates were already identified in the initial report on the incident,” said one of the sources.

North Seberang Perai district police chief ACP Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said police had taken the car in to glean for any prints or clues.

“Obviously it was burnt to destroy any evidence,” Abdul Rahman said yesterday, adding that the car was stolen last year in Simpang Pulai, Perak.

Perak police chief Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the case had been classified as murder as the initial report found the suspect had intentionally rammed into Mohd Azuan, 25.

Acryl told Malay Mail that Mohd Azuan was “simply murdered by the suspect’s accomplice purposely ramming him (Mohd Azuan) from behind at high speed”.

“The suspects are violent and will not hesitate to use lethal force against anyone.

“We will not rest until we get them,” Acryl said.

He also said Perak police would organise a donation drive for the families of Mohd Azuan and his fiancee Nur Faizah Muhamad Rejab. They were due to be married in Alor Star on Sunday.

Mohd Azuan was buried at the Batu 22 Muslim cemetery, Jalan Johor Baru-Ayer Hitam in Kulaijaya, with about 200 relatives and friends present.

His parents Abdullah Mahmood, 49, and Afidah Ehsan, 43, were also present.

In the 1pm incident on Monday in Parit Buntar, Mohd Azuan and his partner had received a radio call informing them of an armed robbery involving a truck laden with cigarettes by robbers in two cars.

The officers gave chase. Upon reaching Batu 10, one of the driver’s rammed his car into Mohd Azuan’s bike, causing him to plunge into a ditch nearby.

His injured partner was transported to the hospital, but help came too late for Mohd Azuan.