Man burnt to death in car fire

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A burnt car with the charred remains of a 41-year-old man on the front passenger seat was found by the roadside in Lorong Perusahaan 6, Prai here.

The deceased was identified as Ong Chee Kheng, a project executive.

Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Rusli Mohd Noor said a police team rushed to the scene upon receiving a call at 12.45am yesterday.

He said the car windows were all shattered but the front portion of the car and the engine were not damaged.

ACP Rusli said the Proton Waja car was registered under the company where Ong worked.

Ong’s body was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for post-mortem.

ACP Rusli said that police have classified the case as sudden death.

He added that police interviewed two eyewitnesses who were working near the scene.

“The eyewitnesses said the fire started from the bottom of the car and spread very fast.

“One of them even tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher but failed,” he said.

ACP Rusli said Ong, who was in the driver’s seat, moved to the front passenger seat, but could not run out.