Johor PAS deputy commissioner Dzulkifly Ahmad's BMW car and the living room of his house were gutted in a suspected arson attack early this morning.

NONE Dzulkifly ( right ), who resides in Taman Universiti, near Skudai, was asleep on the top floor of his house when the pre-dawn incident took place, according to PAS party organ Harakahdaily .

The PAS leader said that he and his wife were woke up by a loud explosion.

"We saw the engine of the BMW car burning and there was fire in the living room," Dzulkifly told Harakahdaily .

"Soon after, there was another loud explosion and my wife and I quickly moved our four other family members out of the house, through the back door."

Dzulkifly said they called the fire department, which arrived minutes later and put out the fire.

However, the BMW car was totally gutted and the living room was also destroyed by the fire.

"A (Toyota) Camry, which was parked next to the BMW, was partially burnt, but I think it can be repaired.

"I am thankful that my family and I are safe and unhurt," Dzulkifly was quoted as saying, adding that a police report has been lodged.

Molotov cocktail attack 'politically motivated'

Another PAS Johor deputy commissioner, Mazlan Aliman, said he suspected the arson was linked to Dzulkifly being vocal on issues related to the Johor Corporation and fast-food chain KFC.

NONE "We hope the police will get to the bottom of the matter," said Mazlan ( right ).

According to Bernama , Dzulkifly said a Molotov cocktail was hurled at his double-storey terrace house about 4.30am, while his family members were all asleep.

"We were awakened by a loud explosion, even the house rocked, and when I went downstairs, the house door was open and the car porch ablaze," he was quoted as saying.

Dzulkifly estimated his losses at RM300,000.

The 44-year-old property consultant said besides his wife and him, there were four others in the house, their three children and his sister-in-law.

He ruled out business rivalry as the motive for the attack, but said it could be politically-motivated.

"I believe this has to do with the takeover of QSR Brands Bhd and KFC Holdings (M) Bhd by the state government-owned Johor Corporation and the land issue at Kampung Ladang, Tanjung Kupang, acquired by Iskandar Investment Bhd, which I handled last Thursday," Dzulkifly added.

North Johor Baru district police chief ACP Ruslan Hassan confirmed the incident.

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