A senior citizen was allegedly stabbed to death by his own son who is a drug addict at the Sri Melaka Flat in Cheras early Thursday morning.

Cheras District Police chief ACP Mohan Singh Tara Singh said the male suspect, 39, was said to have stabbed his father thrice in their kitchen at 3.30am. He was caught by neighbours who heard the victim's shouts.

He said the victim, 74, was rushed to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre but died at 8.30am.

"Police have yet to identify the motive of the incident but we believe it occurred when the suspect was under the influence of drugs," he told reporters in a statement Thursday.

He said police seized a knife and a parang which were suspected to have been used in the incident. The suspect was being detained for interrogation.

He urged anyone who had information on the case to come forward to help in investigation.