MARAN: Neighbours of a man who burnt his home here knew of his threats a day earlier, but did not believe he would do it.
On Friday, the 33-year-old man torched his family home at Felda Jengka 11 here after an argument with his 66-year-old mother.
A neighbour who identified himself as Nazmi said the man was angry with his mother after she refused to give him money.
Azmi said he and other villagers heard the son threatened to retaliate by burning the house but they intervened by advising the man.
“I even called the imam for advice and managed to cool things down then. We never expect him to do it,” he said of the suspect who had past issues on drug addiction.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Norzamri Abd Rahman said the suspect was arrested after the fire and that investigations points to the same motive as to what the villagers claimed.
"Upon receiving information on the incident, a police team rushed to the scene and successfully apprehended the suspect within the vicinity of the house.
"The suspect is unemployed and has a criminal record. He has been detained under Section 436 of the Penal Code for causing mischief with fire," he said.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohd Sani Harul said that they received a call at 2.27pm on Friday and successfully doused the flames within 30 minutes.
"A fire engine was dispatched to the scene where it was found that the house was on fire.
"The fire engulfed 90 per cent of the house. However, total loss is still being investigated," he said.