KUALA NERUS: A senior citizen died after being bitten by his pet monkey at Kampung Lebang Besar, Tepoh, here, today.
In the incident at about 10am, Ngah Muhammad, 72, died at the scene, possibly due to massive blood loss after the monkey bit his wrist.
The five-year-old monkey then bit the victim's son on the neck.
Mohd Zakaria Ngah, 29, said the incident happened while his father was with the monkey behind their house.
"My father brought the monkey there so it could climb up the coconut tree behind our house. I was at home when it happened.
"After some time had passed, I found it weird because it was quiet. I did not hear my dad, there was no sound of coconuts falling and there was no sound from the monkey.
"When I arrived at the scene, I was shocked to find my father lying cold on the ground, not moving, and not far from the monkey, with his right hand bleeding," Mohd Zakaria said when met at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, here, today.
He added that he returned to the house to call his family members and went out again to save his father.
"When I went to get my father, the monkey suddenly attacked me from behind and bit my neck. In pain, I screamed for help and not long after that, a neighbour came by to help me," he said.
Neighbour Mohd Azman Mohd Yusof, 36, said he heard Mohd Zakaria screaming and went to see what happened.
"When I arrived, I saw Pakcik Ngah on the ground, I checked for a pulse and found none. I then helped to lift him up and help his son back to their house.
"After that, I called PERHILITAN (Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia). They arrived not long after that and captured the monkey," Mohd Azman informed.
He said it was hard to believe the monkey had acted out the way it did as the family had cared for it since young.
"In fact, the monkey was even sent to a 'monkey school' in Kampung Banggol Nyior (Kuala Terengganu) where it learned how to climb coconut trees."