A man with tatoos of a dragon on his chest and a koi fish on his back was found dead in Permatang Pauh here, on Tuesday.

The body of the man, who wore a denim shirt and jeans, which had several injuries, was found in bushes near a canal pumphouse in Jalan Kelik at 7.40pm.

Acting Central Seberang Perai District police chief Supt Baharom Abu said no documents were found on the body, which could have been dumped there as there were no signs of altercations at the location the body was found.

"The man is believed to be a foreigner as there was no BCG injection mark on his arm. He could have been robbed before being killed as his personal effects are missing," he told reporters here, on Wednesday.

Baharom said the body was sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital. He urged those with information on the case or a missing relative to contact 013-4188669 or the nearest police station.