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POLICE have confirmed that the body discovered inside a locked Proton Wira by the roadside near a Chinese cemetery in Tawar was that of a local man in his 30s with an extensive criminal background.
Baling district police chief Superintendent Brandon Richard Joe said authorities received a report at 11.35am regarding an unconscious man inside a vehicle near Simpang 3 Tawar.
Acting on the information, officers from the Baling district police headquarters arrived at the scene and found the Proton Wira locked, with the man inside already deceased.
Fire and Rescue Department personnel from the Baling station were later deployed to assist police in forcing open the vehicle and removing the body.
A forensic team from the Kedah police contingent headquarters also conducted examinations at the location as part of the ongoing investigation.
Brandon said preliminary investigations identified the deceased as a Malaysian man in his 30s.
“Preliminary investigations found that the man was a local in his 30s, and checks on his records revealed that the deceased had 20 previous criminal records involving crime and narcotics,” he said.
Police checks further revealed that the Proton Wira had previously been reported stolen in Pendang and was being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft.
“Furthermore, inspections conducted at the scene found that the Proton Wira had been reported missing in Pendang and was being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code.
“Police have seized the vehicle for investigation purposes and further action by the investigating officer handling the case,” he added.
The body was later transported to the Forensic Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for further examination.
Police have currently classified the case as a sudden death pending further investigation.
Authorities also urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident out of respect for the deceased’s family.
Anyone with information related to the case has been asked to contact Tawar police station chief Sergeant Major Hafeedz Amil at 017-5588637 or visit the nearest police station.
Earlier reports stated that firefighters had been called to Jalan Jerat Cina in Tawar to unlock the vehicle after the body was found inside, reportedly in the front passenger seat. - May 24, 2026
