A security guard was found dead with slash wounds near a hardware shop behind Nasmir Restaurant, Klebang Restu, Chemor today.

Ipoh police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said passers-by stumbled on the body and alerted the police at 12.10pm.

He identified the victim as Govinder Nathan, 45, from Ipoh, and said police found a machete, believed to be the murder weapon, about 80 metres away.

Sum said initial investigations found Govinder was purchasing some goods at the premises before being chased by a man armed with a machete.

"The victim was believed to have been slashed several times and collapsed.

The attacker escaped in a motorcycle ridden by another male suspect," he said.

He added that a manhunt had been launched for the suspects.