GEORGE TOWN – The rotting body of a man was found in an apartment unit of a building on Thean Teik Highway in Air Itam today.
His immediate neighbours said they have no idea of what may have occurred.
However, after detecting a strange odour wafting into their home, residents in the unit above the victim’s placed an emergency call to the Fire and Rescue Department.
The apartment management believes that the man may have died of a heart attack, but neighbours fear that it could be due to Covid-19.
“We will not know the cause of death until post-mortem is done,” one of the neighbours said.
“When I opened my door this morning, firefighters were trying to break into the (victim’s) home.
“It was then that I could smell the odour. According to the authorities, they said he could have been dead for five to six days.
“I know the uncle. He was a very quiet and pleasant man. He worked odd jobs for a living, stayed alone and never had any visitor. He had been my neighbour for the past decade.”
A department spokesman said the department received an emergency call at 11.01am.
He said a team from the Paya Terubong Fire and Rescue station was despatched to the scene.
“Upon arrival, the team found that the door of the victim’s house was locked and had to be removed using special equipment.”
He said the remains were handed over to police to be sent to Penang Hospital for further action. – The Vibes, January 29, 2021
