Seremban police chief Hatta Che Din said the victim was smoking inside the mall when he noticed a group of men running up the escalator, one of them armed with a parang.

The victim was slashed several times by the suspect before managing to flee the scene with the help of a friend.

“He was rushed to the hospital after suffering injuries to both arms, his back, and his right leg. He is in stable condition,” Hatta said in a statement.

Hatta said police believe that the case involves elements of gangsterism and that the motive of the attack was revenge.

He said the suspect has been identified and efforts to track him down are ongoing.

The case is being probed under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine, caning, or any two of these penalties upon conviction.