MANJUNG: A man who died in a fire at Taman Muhibbah 2, Sitiawan, is suspected to have been murdered by his younger brother before the house was set on fire.
The victim, Muhammad Khairul Ridzuan Muhamad Taib, 46, was found face down in the living room.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Hasbullah Abdul Rahman, said the police were alerted to the fire at 2.39am.
He said a witness reported seeing the 39-year-old suspect enter the house and hearing thumping sounds from the living room.
"The suspect was later seen leaving and returning with two containers believed to contain petrol before the fire broke out.
"Police have arrested the suspect near the crime scene, and he has been remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation, under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. A post-mortem will be conducted at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital," he said in a statement today.
Members of the public who have information related to the case, can contact Assistant Commissioner Azalan Ab. Karim at 019-3927837 or the Manjung police operations room at 05-6886222.
It was reported earlier that a man died in a house fire at Taman Muhibbah 2, Sitiawan, while seven others escaped unscathed.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, said firemen from the Sitiawan and Seri Manjung stations were dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call at 2.44am.
He said that the fire involved a single-storey terrace house which was 60 per cent destroyed by the flames.