The incident occurred at 7pm at Kampung Tanjung Labian, where the 25-year-old suspect used a pair of scissors to stab his wife in the arm.

Lahad Datu police chief Rohan Shah Ahmad said the couple has been married for five years and has two young children.

“The suspect stabbed his wife because she did not give him money to buy drugs,” he said.

The woman, a 21-year-old Filipina, required three stitches on the wound.

Rohan said the suspect surrendered to police at 12.30pm today.