KOTA KINABALU: The nephew of former chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee was killed in an attack, allegedly by an enraged ex-worker in the east Lahad Datu district Sunday.

The victim, Darren Kong, died after being slashed repeatedly in the head, neck and hands during the 5pm incident at the Asia Café, of which he was the proprietor, here.

It was Kong's 36th birthday.

Lahad Datu police chief Asst Comm Hamza Ahmad said they arrested a 37-year-old foreigner within an hour of the incident.

He said the man, who had been working for Kong for about four years, confronted him about a salary increase.

"There was heated argument and the suspect whipped out a cleaver and began attacking Darren with it," Hamza said.

"We are applying for a seven-day remand for him to assist us in our investigations," he said when contacted on Monday.

Witnesses said Kong's mother, Yong Tet Moi, was in the cafe at the time and tried to stop the attack by throwing a chair at the suspect, but to no avail.

Kong managed to get away from his attacker and made it to the front of the cafe before collapsing.