Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Helmi Aris said the authorities were alerted at 3.22pm after a witness reported a fight at the shelter, which led to the victim’s death.

“An initial investigation revealed that the victim and five others, including the primary suspect, a 70-year-old man, were sitting together at the shelter when the altercation began,” he said in a statement tonight.

He said the suspect approached the victim from behind, struck him with a wooden stick, causing him to fall to the ground, before fatally stabbing him with a knife. The suspect fled but was later apprehended.

Medical personnel, who arrived shortly afterwards, confirmed the man’s death. His body was taken to Bukit Mertajam Hospital for a post-mortem.

The preliminary investigation suggests that there had been an ongoing misunderstanding between the victim and the main suspect for three days before the man’s death.