SUNGAI PETANI: A contract worker from Myanmar, believed to have been murdered, was found dead with stab and slash wounds at a construction site in Bandar Puteri Jaya here around 2am today.
The victim, in his 30s, sustained severe injuries and was confirmed dead with a stab wound to his left rib and a slash wound to his left arm.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail said preliminary investigation showed the victim was believed to have been killed in a fight.
"The altercation was not alcohol-related as no liquor bottles were found at the scene.
"The victim was killed inside a house, where his body covered with blood was found," he told reporters after a Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) community leaders' engagement programme at Park Avenue Hotel here today.
Wan Azharuddin said police arrived at the scene at around 3am and confirmed the victim had died after succumbing to his injuries.
Police, he said, are tracking down a witness to the incident, who is also a friend of the victim, and who had fled the scene.
"The suspect is still at large... we have conducted screenings, but the investigation is ongoing," he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
In a separate development, Wan Azharuddin said around 300 police reports were received, involving flood victims, damaged houses, and uprooted trees caused by a recent storm in the Kuala Muda district.
"Only one drowning case was reported during the floods and strong currents at the river mouth near Pasar Bisik last Tuesday," he said.