A 'molotov cocktail' was hurled into the compound of the residence of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng late last night, said Penang Police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi.

The bomb was thrown into the parking area of the residence in Jalan Pinhorn apparently by a motorcyclist, at 11.48pm, he told reporters.

He said a forensic examination showed that the bottle contained kerosene and had exploded and caused a fire, but no one was injured and there was no damage to property.

"The footage recorded by the closed circuit television camera at the residence of the chief minister will be viewed to identify the suspect," he said.

Abdul Rahim appealed to members of the public who might have seen the incident to provide information to the police.