A man who was in the midst of putting up a political party flag in Kemaman last night, paid a heavy price for his party loyalty.

He was set upon by a group of youths armed with machetes, leaving him critically injured in the 11pm incident.

The victim, in his 40s, has been warded with slash wounds on the abdomen and back at the Sultan Ampuan Afzan Hospital.

A spokesperson from the Terengganu police headquarters, Supt Koh Ah Tiam, said initial investigations revealed the attack was linked to a territorial dispute over the putting up of party flags in the area.

"The victim was with four friends when the group confronted them. We are in the midst of tracking down 10 people, aged between 30 and 40, to facilitate investigations," he told reporters today.

Tiam said seven police reports have been lodged so far, pertaining to fights involving political parties.

However, he noted, last night's incident was the first which involved the use of weapons to inflict injury.

- Bernama