Police detained a man believed to be mentally ill after he set fire to his own house in Kampung Parit Haji Tahir, Jalan Bahru, Kuala Kurau, near here last night.

Kerian Police chief Supt Omar Bakhtiar Yaacob said the 37-year-old man, who had been arrested several times for disturbing public order, was held near his house at about 10pm.

"Police rushed to the location after receiving a complaint on the incident at about 9.30pm and the man admitted to setting fire to his house.

"The suspect is now warded at the Taiping Hospital to undergo an examination," he said when contacted here today.

- BERNAMA