Slain custom officer to be posthumously upgraded

Datuk Shaharuddin Ibrahim, the Customs deputy director-general (customs/internal tax) who was shot dead last Friday, is to be posthumously upgraded from the Jusa B Superscale to Jusa A Superscale.

This was announced today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after he called on Shaharuddin's family here to convey his condolences.

Accompanying Najib were his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor; Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa; Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail; Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and the Barisan Nasional (BN) electoral candidate for Putrajaya, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Najib said the upgrade would allow for an increase in the gratuity and pension to be received by Shaharuddin's widow.

The prime minister said the government decided to upgrade Shaharuddin in view of his service in the national interest.

"It is the government's recognition of Shaharuddin's ultimate sacrifice as a senior government officer who had worked hard and with dedication in the service of the nation," he said. Najib also handed over a contribution to the widow.

Shaharuddin was shot dead by one of two men on a motorcycle who came alongside his car as he was being driven from the house to his office in Putrajaya last Friday morning.

Najib advised all Customs employees to exercise greater care in discharging their duties, and said they should protect themselves against criminal elements.

"I have asked the police to conduct an investigation to resolve the case quickly and bring the culprits to justice," he said.