Hungry man sets house on fire

TASEK GELUGOR (Bernama): A 34-year-old man set their home in Kampung Selamat on fire after flying into a rage over not having any food to eat.

The suspect's 63-year-old father managed to extinguish the flames before the fire spread and then called the police.

Seberang Prai Utara police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said police arrested the suspect who was still at home.

He said a rubber hose with burned marks and a jug with traces of petrol - all believed used to set the house alight in the 4pm incident on Monday (July 22) - were found in the house compound.

It is believed the man siphoned petrol from his father's motorbike before throwing it all over a wall in the front portion of the house and starting the fire with a lighter.

"His mum noticed what he was doing and woke his father up from his nap in time to put out the fire," said ACP Noorzainy on Tuesday (July 23).

He added there have been two police reports made by the suspect's parents who became scared following their son's outburst after being released from prison.

"His urine test detected positive for drugs. He is now on remand for four days for investigations under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire," ACP Noorzainy said. - Bernama