An assistant minister in Sabah was found dead in her hotel room today with stab wounds to the neck and face, police said.

Sabah assistant rural and entrepreneurial development minister, Norjan Khan Bahadar, 52, had likely been murdered, Kota Kinabalu police chief Hamdan Mohamad was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

"It is likely a murder but we are still investigating the motive," he said.

Norjan checked into the Shangri-la Hotel late yesterday with an aide and Hamdan said hotel staff who went to check on her early today after she did not pick up phone calls found her fully-clothed body on the floor of the room.

Robbery ruled out

There were bloodstains on her bed but the overall condition of the room was tidy, he said, adding that police has ruled out robbery as a motive as there was no sign of a forced entry nor that any valuables were missing.

Norjan, who represented the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), was married with four children.

Leaders of Sabah state on Borneo island expressed shock and sadness over the incident and urged police to act swiftly in their investigation, Bernama said. - AFP