Kangar police chief Yusharifuddin Yusop said the incident happened between 9pm and 10pm on Tuesday, and that it involved four people, including Elly, Harian Metro reported.

“When police arrived at the scene, we found that the victim and three others involved in the fight had already been taken to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital for treatment,” he was quoted as saying.

Yusharifuddin said Elly, 40, died at 12.30am yesterday due to loss of blood from multiple slash wounds.

Subsequently, three men aged 28 to 51 were arrested in different parts of Kangar, including a man and his son. Police also seized a 112cm-long sword believed to have been used in the fight.

A urine test found that only the main suspect, 51, tested positive for drugs, but all three men had criminal records, having committed various offences in the past.

Yusharifuddin said the victim and suspects knew each other but the motive behind the incident is still being identified.