Northeast district chief ACP Anuar Omar said it started when a man going by the name of “Tommy” found the 28-year-old transgender’s contact on WeChat.
He said Tommy then met the transgender at a hotel along New Lane, which is famous for its roadside hawkers, at 11.30pm and started bargaining over the “expensive rates”.
He said the man finally appeared to agree to the price offered. However, instead of reaching for his wallet, he went for his knife and started stabbing the worker in the stomach.
“The victim was hurt in the abdomen, back, arms, neck and face,” Anuar told reporters today.
“Initial investigations showed that (the transgender) is a tourist who arrived in Penang last week and was returning very soon.”
He said police have drafted a clear image of the assailant and are confident of nabbing him soon.
The transgender is being treated at the Penang Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.