Perak police chief Yusri Hassan Basri said the incident caused damage to three of Ngeh’s vehicles, with a bottle suspected to be a Molotov cocktail discovered at the scene.

“In connection with this, the case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code (for mischief by fire), and a detailed investigation will be carried out from various angles,” he said in a statement.

Yusri also cautioned the public against making speculative statements that could hinder the investigation, and urged those with information to contact the investigating officer for assistance.

China Press earlier reported that Ngeh’s residence in Ayer Tawar, Perak, had caught fire in the wee hours of the morning.

Ngeh told the daily that he and his wife were woken by a passer-by who rang the doorbell and alerted them to the fire.

Ngeh, a Perak DAP leader, said he had lodged a report on the matter at the Ayer Tawar police station.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook later condemned the attack on Ngeh’s house, saying “any form of violence was unacceptable” in addressing societal differences.

Ngeh recently stirred controversy by suggesting that non-Muslim constitutional experts be appointed to the committee reviewing the jurisdiction of shariah courts according to the Federal Constitution.

The DAP lawmaker later apologised and withdrew his proposal.