An angler was shocked to find a body in the advanced stage of decay on the beach, near an army base in Batu Feringgi, here, last night.

Penang CID chief, SAC Mazlan Kesah said the body whose gender could not be determined, was found about 8.20pm after the man detected a foul smell when he was about to fish in the area.

"The decomposed body is believed to have been swept to the beach after quite some time based on its condition, which was too pale," he told reporters, here, today.

The case has been classified as sudden death and those who have lost a family member or have any information on this case are urged to contact the police to facilitate the investigation.

Mazlan said the body, believed to be of an adult, was sent to Penang Hospital.