GEORGE TOWN, Oct 16 — A land broker is fighting for his life at the Penang Hospital after he was torched in a toilet at the Prangin Mall shopping centre here last night.

The 56-year-old victim who sustained 60 per cent burns on the body has been warded at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The police have not ruled out business rivalry as a motive of the fiery attack.

North East District police chief, ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said doctors who described the broker’s condition as critical, said the man who was currently unconscious sustained burns on the head, abdomen and legs.

“Engulfed in flames, he ran out of the public toilet located on the ground floor of the shopping centre about 10pm.

“On-lookers doused the flames before sending him to the hospital in an ambulance,” he told reporters here today.

Mior Faridalatrash said according to closed-circuit television camera footage, the police noted that a man had first entered the toilet, three minutes before the victim.

“When the victim ran out of the toilet engulfed in flames, a man wearing a helmet was also spotted running out while holding a bag, believed to belong to the victim,” he added.

He said the victim, before losing consciousness had said he did not see who was involved in the torching incident because he was in the toilet and the door was closed.

The police have urged those with information on the incident to contact the nearest police station to facilitate investigations. — Bernama