KUALA LUMPUR: An influential figure in the building and construction industry died without regaining consciousness yesterday, two days after he jumped out of a window on the first floor of his home in a bid to escape armed robbers.

Datuk Patrick Wong, former Master Builders Association Malaysia president and founder of Satujaya Sdn Bhd, was using his computer on the first floor of his bungalow in Bukit Damansara about 7pm on Tuesday when three men armed with parang entered.

City Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said it was not known whether Wong had been assaulted, but Wong's family reported hearing one of the robbers saying the 47-year-old had jumped out of the window.

Ku said police had classified the case as murder, although the motive was robbery.

He was president of Master Builders Association Malaysia between 2006 and 2008, after holding several positions in the association since 1996.

-New Straits Times