A Facebook page for the Pahang royal office quoted the ruler as saying that the perpetrator must be brought to justice and face a fitting punishment. He described the killing as “cruel and inhumane”.

Al-Sultan Abdullah, accompanied by the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, visited the victim’s family at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan.

He offered the victim’s 31-year-old husband Afiq Akhmal Nudin his condolences and words of encouragement.

Earlier today, Pahang police chief Yahaya Othman said a suspect in the killing had been identified and a manhunt was under way.

He said the male suspect, who resides in the district, has a criminal record and was not related to the victim, who was a food seller.

The 37-year-old man had ordered food from the woman and had gone to the scene to pay her cash on delivery, he said.

Yahaya also said initial investigations revealed that the woman’s jewellery was missing and there were signs of injury on her body.