KLUANG: A Myanmar-national was stabbed to death with a pruning shear by his fellow countryman following an argument at their workers quarters along Jalan Renggam-Kluang near here on Friday.
District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said the victim in his 30s succumbed to his injuries at the Enche' Besar Hajjah Kalsom Hospital yesterday.
"We have arrested two Myanmar-nationals aged 30 and 40, while we are on the pursuit of the main suspect, a 27-year-old, who has gone into hiding.
Initial investigations revealed the victim and the 27-year-old suspect, who both worked in a plantation, had an argument that later escalated to a physical fight.
The suspect is alleged to have stabbed the victim with the pruning shear repeatedly at the workers' shared "kongsi" situated in an eight-hectare banana and guava plantation.
"The suspect fled the scene, while fellow workers rushed the victim to the hospital," Bahrin said, adding the information was shared by the victim's wife.
However, police received a call from the hospital at 12.55am yesterday alerting them of the victim's death.
Bahrin said it is believed that the motive behind the argument was merely because the suspect was dissatisfied with the victim's close relationship with their employer.
"Police raided the kongsi yesterday and arrested a 30-year-old Myanmar-national at 5pm. We also arrested a 40-year-old man, at a banana plantation in Ladang Bukit Benut, Pontian, some four hours later.
"Police also seized two mobile phones belonging to the suspects in custody to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code," he said.
Bahrin urged those with any information on the whereabouts of the 27-year-old Myanmar citizen identified as Khaing Kyaw Hlaing (Pix) to contact their hotline at 07 7784222 or 07 7766822 or 014 3656822.