A shirtless man's decomposed body was found near Pantai Romantik, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, at 12.20pm Friday.

District police chief, Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria, said the 26-year-old man, known as Mohd Hazmi Hanafi, was believed to be a fishmonger from Kampung Beris Cawat, Kuala Besut.

He said the body which was found in a decomposed state was first discovered by a tourist who alerted the resort management which later contacted the police.

"When the police arrived at the spot, the deceased was found lying in a supine position, shirtless and only wearing a belted black shorts," he told reporters when met here, Saturday.

According to Kamaruddin, on April 21, the deceased's father had lodged a missing person report at the Kuala Besut police station.

The body was taken to the Besut Hospital mortuary at about 6.30pm Friday from Pulau Perhentian for a post-mortem.