Police will investigate the death of a 53-year-old man who died while being held detained by police.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said the man was detained after a chase by two police patrols in Jalan Barat off Jalan Imbi at about 12.15am this morning.

"While making the arrest, police had to struggle with the driver of a Proton Waja before the suspect was finally subdued.

"However he was found weak and he was sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he was pronounced dead," he said in a media statement here tonight.

Zainuddin said based on the post-mortem, there were no signs of internal and external injuries

He said the cause of death was still not determined while police are awaiting a chemistry report.