MANJUNG: Police are searching for two men over the burning of a pick-up truck in a residential area in Ayer Tawar here last Tuesday.
Manjung district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Nordin Abdullah said the Ayer Tawar police station received a call from the vehicle owner reporting the arson at 4.45am.
He said CCTV footage near the location captured two men wearing face masks walking towards a house.
"They were seen throwing a threatening note along with a plastic bag containing flammable liquid. One of the suspects then threw a Molotov cocktail to the back of the pick-up truck, causing a fire before fleeing the scene.
"However, the complainant's family members successfully extinguished the fire.
"The incident is suspected to have originated from one of the victim's family members taking a loan from loan sharks, and the case is being investigated under the Penal Code (for mischief by fire)," he said today.
Nordin said from January to July, the Criminal Investigation Division in the Manjung district headquarters (IPD Manjung) had opened 16 investigation papers on vandalism and arson cases, resulting in six arrests.
"Meanwhile, the Manjung Commercial Crime Division opened four investigation papers on unlicensed money lending that resulted in five arrests.
"The police advise the public not to borrow from unlicensed money lenders to avoid unwanted incidents.
"The public who have information about this case are requested to contact the IPD Manjung operations room at 05-688 6222 to assist in investigations," he said.