SHAH ALAM, May 20  — Selangor Police are on the trail of a prisoner who escaped while receiving treatment at Kajang Hospital yesterday.

Selangor Police chief Datuk Abdul Samah Mat said all district police headquarters have been instructed to intensify the search because he believed the prisoner had left Kajang area.

“The prisoner believed to be involved in drugs escaped when seeking treatment at hospital and is believed to have fled to Kuala Lumpur,” he told reporters here today.

The male prisoner, 44, whose last address is Taman Intan Baiduri, Kuala Lumpur, was found missing by hospital staff who informed the police at 9.15pm.

In the meantime, when asked to comment on preparations for the Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election, Abdul Samah assured full security in all aspects.

The Sungai Besar parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Datuk Noriah Kasnon, who was Deputy Minister of Plantation, Industries and Commodities, in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.

Also killed in the crash were Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and four others, including the pilot.

The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections will be held simultaneously on June 18. Nomination day is June 5 while early voting is on June 14. — Bernama