Businessman Syed Amen Jainul Abidin who was gunned down here early today, had been threatened several times for being vocal in defending the rights of the locals.

His widow, Masita Abu Bakar, said the 46-year-old victim had informed her of the threats and urged the family to be more cautious.

She said Syed Amen had often helped his friends who were in difficulties and although many knew him as a no-nonsense person, "in reality, he was easily moved" when others were in dire straits.

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Masita, also 46, was speaking to reporters at the Penang Hospital's Forensics Medical Department here today.

In the incident at 3.30am, Syed Amen was shot dead at close range in front of a high-powered motorcycle shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat here.

Penang CID chief Datuk Mohd Zakaria Ahmad said the victim's bloodied body was found in a car which he was earlier driving, after a man had shot him five times.

Masita said the couple married 10 years ago and were childless because she experienced miscarriages several times, including the latest last week.

"As a wife, I am very sad and it is indeed, difficult to accept this fact, but I do and I resign myself to it as this is God's will.

"I hope the police will nab whoever shot my husband as soon as possible," she added.

Syed Amen was also a notable activist speaking for the rights of those who felt 'short-changed' by the local authorities. He received the Penang Bumiputra Icon Award in 2008.

In 2014, his car wash outlet in Jalan Arraton here was torched by a group which was reportedly unhappy with the victim for speaking out for the rights of the local folks.

Meanwhile, his brother, Abdul Kader, 42, said he did not believe a friend who informed him that Syed Amen had been shot, adding that he told him to look again at the body to be sure.

"Thus, I was really shocked after receiving the sad news and did not believe that my brother would leave us in such a manner.

"Our mother is devastated. She is in India and is expected to return to Penang tomorrow," he added.

Abdul Kader said Syed Amen, who is second of five siblings, liked to help people, especially friends in difficulties, and had always disregarded threats against him.

Syed Amen's remains were buried at the Sungai Dua Muslim Cemetery after Asar prayers this evening.

Syed Amen also seemed to have had a premonition of the tragedy which befell him because via a status which was uploaded on his Facebook account under the name 'Amen Beyond', he referred to a shooting incident and prophesied that he would face a similar fate.

The status was uploaded on Dec 4 last year.