A teenage nephew of a property broker, suspected by the police to be one of four people murdered by a family is hoping against hope over the fate of the uncle.

Sukhvinderjit Singh, 19, is praying hard that one of the victims is not his uncle, Jasbeer Singh, 46, who has been reported missing since August.

"We will keep praying for the safe return of our uncle. So far, the police have not confirmed if one of the victims of the brutal murder is my uncle.

"We hope to get a definite answer from PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) soon. We pray our uncle is still alive," he told reporters when met in Kampung Sungai Lah, Chenderiang here Tuesday.

Sukhvinderjit said his uncle, a father of two boys and two girls was a kind, caring and responsible person and that he used to work with him on the farm.

"My uncle's family has been living in sorrow since his disappearance... they have lost the head of the family, who has been taking care of them."

The teenager said family members were now gathered in Ipoh and prayer ceremonies were held for Jasbeer's safe return.

The police have detained a couple and their two sons to facilitate investigations into the murder of at least four people in Tapah on Oct 26.

The suspects were picked up at a house in Jalan Pahang, Tapah about 1.30pm, after Jasbeer, who also worked as a gardener was reported missing on Aug 25 in Kampung Sungai.

Meanwhile, state health, public transport, non-Muslim affairs, national integration and new village committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the state government urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the incident.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing man's family. I am saddened by the incident," he said, adding the state government would donate RM3,000 to Jasbeer's family.

Meanwhile, the police will intensify their probe if they receive evidence that the four suspects were involved in other killings.

Perak Criminal Investigation Department chief, SAC Goh Kok Liang said currently, investigations were only centred on the four murders.

However, if there was evidence linking the suspects to other killings, the police would expand their murder probe, he said.

In a related matter, Goh said the couple's daughter was not arrested to shed light on the killings as there was no evidence implicating her.

READ: Family of four arrested over Tapah gruesome murders