A Malaysian who was shot dead while riding a motorcycle in Hatyai last month might have enraged a local motorcyclist over the manner the former rode his machine.

In the incident on May 16, the Thai motorcyclist and pillion rider were angry when Mohd Nizam Ahmad Basrah overtook them in a supposedly reckless manner.

One of the Thais whipped out a pistol and shot dead the Malaysian who was from Penang.

Songkhla police assistant chief, Col Chaiwat Nittayavitmol said a 25-year-old construction equipment dealer was detained to facilitate investigations into the killing.

He said the man had since been charged with murder and illegal possession of a gun and ammunition.

He told a press conference the suspect did not like the way Mohd Nizam rode the motorcycle and thus, shot the Malaysian.

He said the police were in the midst of tracking down the suspect's pillion rider.