A police corporal's son was gunned down gangland-style at his residence in Taman Tun Sambanthan near Sungai Siput here early today.

The 29-year-old victim, whose father, T. Nadarajah, 54, is attached to the Khantan Baru police station, died on the spot in the incident about 12.30am.

Sungai Siput police chief Supt Wan Jamil Wan Chik said the victim sustained four gunshot wounds on the back of the head, left hand, right shoulder and left cheek.

He said the policeman's jobless son -- whose name was withheld by the police to facilitate investigations -- had driven a car into the parking lot of the family home in Lorong Lapan when the gunman ambushed him.

"The victim was alone when the incident occurred. He was getting out of a car to enter the house when he was fired upon several times.

"We are in the midst of determining the motive of the murder and identifying the suspect or suspects involved," said Wan Jamil in a statement here today.

He said five 9mm bullet cartridges and two bullets were found at the scene of the crime.

The victim's body was sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

Meanwhile, a devastated Nadarajah said his son, Suren, was murdered on the very day the youth was to celebrate his birthday, having returned from offering prayers for blessings at a nearby temple.

"Today is my son's birthday and he has left us forever... I was away at work at the police station when my son was set upon by the gunman.

"It was just recently that I had sent Suren and his brother to Johor for job interviews. Alas, Suren's aspirations to secure a job will not be fulfilled," he said when met by reporters at the hospital mortuary here.