LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA: A man who allegedly tried to set a mother and son on fire after an accident in Taman Langkawi, Kuah, on Saturday night was engulfed in flames and is seriously injured.

The 34-year-old was rushed to the Langkawi Hospital and later transferred to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star where he is in critical condition.

He is in a coma with third- degree burns on most of his body.

The man had rammed into 28-year-old Teh Kor Hien's car at 7pm as Teh was driving out of his house.

The man and Teh got into an argument.

A short while later, the man went to his car, got a container of petrol and splashed the liquid on Teh.

Hearing the commotion outside her house, Teh's mother, Law Tharesa, rushed out to calm things down.

On seeing her, the man splashed petrol on her, too.

He then tried to set both mother and son on fire.

Although they suffered minor burns, the fire did not engulf them and they ran back into the house.

The man then poured the remaining petrol on Teh's car.

However, when he set it alight, the fire spread to his body as the petrol had also splashed on him.

Teh and Law received outpatient treatment for minor burns on their hands and thighs at the Langkawi Hospital.

District police chief Superintendent Mohamed Ali Jamaludin said investigations revealed the argument between Teh and the man had begun because of a disagreement over business matters.

It is learnt that the man was an employee of Teh's uncle. Teh, who is about to get married, has postponed his wedding.