Pontian, Malaysia: Three masked men murdered an eighty-year-old man during an attempted robbery early Thursday morning.

Tan Yam Keng's body was discovered by his family members in a toilet at his home in Taman Zalinah at about 5am Thursday.

His arms and legs were tied. Police believed he could have been strangled with a rope.

Tan's family members, who were sleeping on the second floor at the time of the robbery, heard noises coming from his room downstairs.

Going to his room, they saw three men armed with knives fleeing the room. The robbers escaped through the back door.

Pontian OCPD Supt Zahaliman Jamin said police believe that Tan was murdered in the midst of a robbery.

"The victim's family may have foiled a robbery attempt as nothing was missing from the house.

"The family members could not identify the suspects as they were wearing masks," he said when contacted here Thursday.

Supt Zahaliman said Tan's body had been sent to the Pontian Hospital for a post-mortem.

He said the case was being classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Supt Zahaliman urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or go to the nearest police station.