MUAR: The mystery surrounding a darkened and eerily silent house led to a grim discovery at Taman Indah, Sungai Abong, yesterday.
An elderly man in his 70s and his disabled son in his 40s were found dead, with both believed to have been deceased for several days.
Their bodies were discovered by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was alerted by concerned local residents.
A third family member, a mentally challenged woman in her 40s, was found alive but in a weakened state within the same house.
The situation came to light when residents, worried about the family's unexplained absence, reached out to the NGO.
The father's body was found in the bathroom, while the son was discovered lying on the sofa.
One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the NGO had been providing monthly aid to the family since the death of their mother a few years ago.
"The son and daughter were both disabled and depended entirely on their father for care. When the door was opened, they found the son on the sofa and the daughter in a weakened state, likely due to starvation," the neighbour said.
The NGO and local residents then contacted the police for further assistance.
The bodies were taken to Sultanah Fatimah Hospital for a post-mortem to determine the cause of death, while the surviving daughter was also admitted to the hospital for treatment.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz confirmed the incident when contacted.