BUKIT MERTAJAM (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - It was like any other Saturday morning (May 26) for cellphone dealer Tan Yi Chin.

After having breakfast with a friend at a food court, the 23-year-old was on his way back to his house in Machang Bubok.

But it was not the usual Saturday for Tan because as he stopped at a red light in Jalan Kulim near Taman Sentosa, a lone gunman suddenly walked up and unleashed a hail of bullets at his car.

Wounded on his right shoulder, right hand and body, Tan managed to escape from the left side of his Honda Accord.

The gunman is believed to have fled after the shooting.

Penang police chief Commissioner Datuk A. Thaiveegan said the 11.15am incident occurred at a busy traffic light junction in Jalan Kulim.

"The victim is in stable condition. We've formed a task force to investigate the case from all angles," he said.

Central Seberang Prai OCPD Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the assailant wore a ski mask and fired more than 10 shots.

ACP Nik Ros said Tan, who had a record for running an illegal entertainment outlet, was not a VIP, as reported earlier.

"We recovered 11 bullet casings at the scene. I believe that a semi-automatic pistol was used.

"We will view any footage of CCTVs in the vicinity to try and identify the suspect," he said.

The case is being probed under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.