ALOR STAR: A 43-year-old foreign man was detained by police following the discovery of the bodies of two females in a drain behind an abandoned building along Sultan Abdul Halim Highway on Sunday.
Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad said the suspect, believed to be the husband of one and the father of the other, was apprehended following swift police intelligence work.
She said the man will be brought to the Alor Star magistrate's court later today for a remand application to facilitate further investigation.
"The arrest took place at 9pm at a mosque in Bukit Pinang. Police are continuing investigations to uncover the motive behind the incident," she said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Salawati said a police team was despatched to the location after receiving distress calls about the discovery of the bodies at 5.04pm.
"The bodies, that of a 34-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child, were found by a member of the public who immediately alerted the police.
"Initial investigations at the scene found that both bodies, fully clothed and without identification documents, were found lying face-down and face-up close to each other in a small drain, with slash wounds on their necks," she said.
The bodies, believed to be of foreign nationals, were subsequently taken to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital's Forensic Department for post-mortem examination.
"The police urge the public not to speculate on the matter, as it could cause unnecessary concern in the community.
"We also appeal to anyone with information about the incident to come forward and provide their statements," she added.
It was reported that the bodies of two women, bearing signs of injury, were discovered in a drain behind an abandoned building along Sultan Abdul Halim Highway.