A man suffered 90 per cent burns on his body, allegedly in a suicide attempt, after setting himself on fire near a playground at Taman Bukit Indah here yesterday.

Iskandar Puteri police chief Supt Noor Hashim Mohamad said the police, when informed on the incident about 5.30 pm , went to the scene and found a plastic bottle containing petrol.

The victim, in his 30s and clad only in shorts, was found lying at the scene with 90 per cent burns on the body, he told a media conference here today.

He said the victim was sent to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) and warded at the Intensive Care Unit.

Following the incident, Noor Hashim said a man, in his 70s, had claimed that the victim was his son.

"The victim is said to be a divorcee and used to be a mental patient," he added.

In another development, Noor Hashim said police arrested a 22-year-old man last Sunday in connection with a lorry theft.

He said the man was arrested after police found a suspicious lorry left in a housing area in Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai and checks found that the vehicle had been reported missing at Taman Pulai Flora, Kangkar Pulai.

The man was arrested when he returned to get the lorry, he added. -- Bernama