Ipoh police chief Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the suspect was arrested in front of the house at 12.15am and is being remanded to assist in the murder investigation.

“A mobile phone, car dashcam and CCTV decoder were also seized,” Bernama reported him as saying.

Abang Zainal said police received a call at about 8.25pm about the discovery of the unconscious 57-year-old victim in the house.

He said a preliminary investigation found the premises’ CCTV to be non-functional.

He said the suspect claimed that his father last responded to a text message at 2.40pm.

“The suspect said he returned home from work at about 7.30pm and found the front gate closed, but the grille and glass doors were open. He said the living room sofa was in disarray.

“He told police he went to the kitchen, where he discovered the victim lying on his back in a pool of blood.

“Further checks confirmed that no valuables were missing,” he said.

Abang Zainal said that according to a neighbour, the victim was last seen alone, smoking outside the house at about 11am, and no suspicious activity was seen or heard at the time.

A preliminary investigation revealed stab wounds to the right side of his abdomen and a slash wound to the right side of his chest.

A 22cm-long knife was found cleaned and placed on the kitchen sink. It is believed to have been used in the murder.

Abang Zainal said the motive for the killing is still under investigation.