KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — A 19-year-old man called police through the MERS 999 emergency line after a dispute with his girlfriend early today, with officers later finding the woman unconscious in a rented room in Kuantan before she was pronounced dead.

Kuantan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ashari Abu Samah said police received the call at about 4.32am and dispatched officers to a rented house in Jalan Air Putih 2.

“Upon arriving at the location, police found a 19-year-old female student unconscious in a rented room on the ground floor of the house,” he said in a statement today.

“An examination by a forensic specialist from Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) found signs of pressure on the neck. The victim was subsequently pronounced dead.”

Ashari said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident arose from a dispute between the suspect and the victim.

He said personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department’s D10 Forensics Division and the Pahang police contingent headquarters’ K9 unit were also deployed to examine the scene.

The 19-year-old suspect was subsequently brought before the Kuantan Magistrate’s Court, where police obtained a seven-day remand order until October 12.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

A post-mortem will be carried out at HTAA’s Forensic Department to determine the exact cause of death.

Ashari said investigators were also recording statements from witnesses and obtaining forensic reports as part of the investigation.

Police urged the public not to speculate about the case or circulate unverified information while investigations were continuing.

“The public is advised not to make any speculation or spread information that has not been verified as this could affect the investigation,” Ashari said.

“Anyone with information relating to the case is urged to come forward and assist police.”