A Pahang princess was stabbed to death and her husband seriously injured after they were attacked by one of their sons at their villa here.

Tengku Puteri Kamariah Sultan Abu Bakar, 64, was stabbed in the back while trying to protect her husband Tunku Ismail Tunku Sulaiman from their 21-year-old son Tunku Shahzan.

The incident occurred at about 1.20pm yesterday at their house here. Tengku Puteri Kamariah is the half-sister of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Malaysia's eastern state of Pahang.

About six hours later, Tunku Shahzan died at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital. Police had earlier arrested him at the villa.

Tunku Ismail, who is a member of Negri Sembilan state royalty, is reported to be in stable condition after undergoing an operation at the same hospital.

Tunku Shahzan, who died at 7.35pm, was believed to have been under the influence of designer drugs when he tried to slash his father repeatedly for no apparent reason. He was the youngest of the couple's eight children.

A relative living next to the villa, Tengku Ahmad Faisal Tengku Abdul Jamil, said Tunku Shahzan was acting strangely.

"He first jumped out of the side balcony and walked on the fibreglass roof before jumping into my house compound," said Tengku Ahmad Faisal, who is related to Tengku Puteri Kamariah.

"He looked strange, and his eyes were red and bulging. When I questioned him, he replied "takut, takut" (scared, scared), then dashed across he road like a man possessed."

Sensing something amiss, Tengku Ahmad Faisal went over to Tunku Ismail's villa to investigate and heard cries for help from the couple's maid. "I saw Tunku Ismail slumped on the chair on the veranda, with a slash wound in his abdomen. With the help of several friends, we chased after Tunku Shahzan, overpowered him and tied him up," he added.

Tengku Ahmad Faisal said he then went back to the villa and found Tengku Puteri Kamariah bleeding profusely in the kitchen.

"She was very weak. Before drawing her last breath, she muttered: 'Belajar ugama. Kalau nak jual, juallah kereta tu.' [Learn the religion. If you want, sell off the car]," recalled Tengku Ahmad Faisal, adding that he did not understand what Tengku Puteri Kamariah meant. "She died in my arms."

At press time, Tunku Ismail, 69, had yet to be informed of his wife's or son's death.

The tragedy shattered the quiet affluent neighbourhood, and residents there could only shake their heads in disbelief. The shocking news spread within minutes and quickly became the talk of the town.

State police chief Deputy Comm Abdul Razak Bokhari said police, who arrived at the villa after receiving a call earlier, had found Tunku Shahzan tied up.

The Star

Asia News Network

Kuantan, Malaysia