A woman experienced a terrifying moment when an unidentified man armed with a knife entered her car in Jalan Taman Permai Jaya at 1.30pm yesterday.

Miri police chief ACP Khoo Leng Huat said the 36-year-old victim was sitting in the car when the suspect suddenly entered and sat in the passenger seat.

"The suspect brandished a knife and forced her to drive," he said in a statement here today.

Khoo said the victim, who worked as a cashier in a gym acted quickly by running out of the car screaming for help.

He said members of the public tried to nab the man, who tried to escape on a blue Modenas Kriss motorcycle.

"However, the suspect fell and he fled leaving the motorcycle and a knife behind. A police MPV then arrived at the scene and seized the weapon and machine," he said.

Acting on public information, Khoo said the police went at 5.40pm to a house in Permajaya where the suspect was believed to be living.

A 43-year-old local man was arrested at the premises.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 393 of the Penal Code, punishable with a seven-year jail term on conviction. -- Bernama