KUALA LUMPUR: Police are looking for a foreigner to assist in investigations into the murder of prominent fund manager Choong Khuat Hock.

Federal Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said the motive for the murder could be "personal reasons".

He declined to elaborate on the background of the foreigner but said Choong was last seen alive with that person.

Initial checks revealed that the foreigner was still in the country and believed to have gone into hiding.

Choong's black Mercedes Benz E230, bearing the registration number WHK 9119, was still missing and an all-points bulletin had been issued on the car.

The victim's father, Datuk Freddie Choong, urged those with information on the car to contact police immediately as it could help in the murder investigations.

"I last saw my son in Penang during the Chinese New Year celebrations," Freddie said, declining to speak further. He pleaded that the family be left alone to mourn in private.

Meanwhile, Bentong deputy police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohamad Mansor Mohamad Nor said statements had been recorded from several people.

Bentong police is leading the investigations as Choong's body was found in a drain at Km54 of the Karak Highway, which lies in the district, last Saturday afternoon.

A post-mortem revealed that Choong sustained blunt-force trauma and several broken ribs.

Mansor said Choong's remains would probably be claimed by his family today once the results of the DNA tests were released by the Chemistry Department.

Choong, a 49-year-old bachelor, was the head of research at Kumpulan Sentiasa Cemerlang Sdn Bhd. He was reported missing by his secretary on March 10.

Checks revealed that the victim stayed in Taman Supreme, Cheras, with a maid.

He was the nephew of former national badminton legend Datuk Eddy Choong and the fifth generation of the Choong family, which is well-known in Penang for its diverse business interests.