GEORGE TOWN, May 14 -- A 35-year-old man was shot dead by police early this morning after he opened fire at officers during a crime prevention operation in Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the incident occurred at about 4.05am when officers approached a car parked along Lintang Bukit Jambul.

"Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department were on patrol when they noticed the vehicle and moved in to conduct a check," he said in a statement.

Hamzah said the officers identified themselves, but the man suddenly exited the vehicle and fired at them.

"The police returned fire in self-defence," he said, adding that the suspect was killed at the scene.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a pistol...