Police also released the name of the victims – Toh Hock Choon, 50, Tan Saw Sim, 55, Chung Wah Thong, 30, and a 2-year-old girl, Ah Bee.

Police arrived at the scene after being notified by a concerned citizen, who had called them at about 2am.

The victims were lying in a pool of blood, on the floor of a small office in the factory, Penang CID chief SAC Razarudin Husain said.

According to the medical team from Penang General Hospital, preliminary checks confirmed that all the victims died from their gunshot wounds.

Razarudin said police later questioned an employee of the older male victim (Toh).

“The employee told us that Toh and Tan had not been legally married but were living together while Chung was Toh’s son and Ah Bee was Chung’s child.”

Police believe that the victims’ family were constantly arguing and that the suspect is Tan’s son, who is yet to be identified.

Several of Toh’s employees said they had seen the suspect come to the factory the night before and enter the office.

Police are searching for the suspect whom they believe is still in Penang.