After completing a course at the Rubber Research Institute, Sungai Buloh, he was then assigned to Masjid Tanah, Melaka before being transferred back to Taiping, Perak.

After passed the training at PULAPOL on Semarak Street, he was assigned as an Investigating Officer at Sentral Police Station, Penang.

In 1 June 1966, he was promoted to Inspector and continued his duties as Platoon Commander by participating in operations and also as a trainer at the Police Field Force Training School in Kroh, Perak.

On 3 September 1975, his units succeeded in detecting the enemy camp positions near the Grik and the occurrence of a clash between the 69 Commandos leaderships by Zabri with the communists, which possessed membership of as many as 30 to 40 before the terrorists retreat.

To commemorate his service, he was promoted as an Assistant Superintendent rank and a 69 Commando training camp in Tasik Banding was named after him.

[5] The ASP Zabri's final mission is shown in a documentary by History Channel Asia titled "VAT 69: Malaysia's Very Able Troopers".