A former chief executive officer of Maju Perak Holdings Bhd, with the 'Datuk' title, was seriously injured on the head when attacked by robbers in the compound of his house in Meru Heights in Ipoh today.

Ipoh deputy police chief Supt Abdul Rani Alias said the victim's wife, who is a former lecturer, also sustained slash wound on the hand in the incident which occurred at 3.30pm.

They were believed to have been attacked by six men armed with machete, he said, adding that the Datuk was reported to be in critical condition at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

According to a witness, the suspects fled on three motorcycles, but was not able to get their registration numbers or the direction they were heading to, he said in a statement in Ipoh today.

Meanwhile, the couple's daughter, in her 20s, said she, a sister and their mother locked the house door after seeing their father being robbed.

"However, the robbers kicked open the door and one of them placed a machete at my neck and ordered me to take the family's jewellery," she added.

Meanwhile, a witness, who wished to be identified only as Jasmir, said she heard screams coming from her neighbour's house and then saw at least six men rushing out of the house and fled on motorcycles.

She said she then contacted the police for help.

- Bernama