BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA - Three robbers, one armed with an AK 47 rifle, took three minutes to rob two goldsmith shops at the Carrefour hypermarket in Seberang Jaya here of jewellery worth about RM1.3mil.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Wan Abdullah Tuanku Said said two of them robbed Kedai Em'as Wah Chan while the third looted Kedai Emas Tefani in the 7.34pm incident on Wednesday night.

The shops are located opposite each other.

He said the robbers escaped with 21 trays of valuables worth about RM700,000 from the first shop and 11 trays of jewellery worth RM600,000 from the second shop.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, SAC Wan Abdullah said two of the robbers wore helmets with visors while the third used a surgical mask.

Also present were Central Seberang Prai acting OCPD Supt Mohan Singh and district acting CID chief Asst Supt S. Subrama-niam.

SAC Wan Abdullah said the robbers, who spoke in Hokkien, escaped via the hypermarket cargo lift.

The robbers fired several shots in the air during the escape, but no one was injured in the incident.

SAC Wan Abdullah said there were no customers in either shop at the time of the robbery.

He added that the robbery at Kedai Emas Wah Chan was the second at the place.

"It was robbed of RM800,000 worth of jewellery in July," he said.