(AFP) - Seven people have been found dead with their throats slit in a house in Johor state, a report said today.

The Sunday Star newspaper said the bodies of five women and two men, aged between 27 and 71, were found sprawled in pools of blood in different parts of the house.

Johor police chief Mokhtar Hassan said the murders might have taken place early yesterday.

Mokhtar said police found the grille gate padlocked and the front door locked.

"There does not appear to be a forced break-in. Nothing was stolen and there were no signs that the house had been ransacked," he said.

Mokhtar added that there were also no signs of any struggle and no weapons were found at the scene.