A Form Five student was found dead with slash wounds to her neck, at her family's flat in Bandar Baru Teluk Kumbar near here yesterday.

The body of the 17-year-old student from a secondary school in Teluk Kumbar was discovered by her father around 7.30 pm.

Southwest district police deputy chief DSP Siti Nor Salawati Saad said the victim's father upon arriving home had called out to his daughter but received no response.

She said the father immediately went to the bedroom of the victim who was his eldest child where he found her covered in a blanket but unresponsive.

According to her, members of public helped to inform police about the incident.

"The victim was fully clothed and we believe there was a struggle based on the mess in the room," she told reporters at the scene here last night.

She said police also found a bolster with blood stains in the living room of the house.

"Investigations revealed there was no sign of a break-in but no weapon was found in the victim's bedroom," she said, adding, the body had been sent to Penang Hospital for post mortem.

Siti Nor Salawati said police have detained a youth in his 20s, to assist in the investigation. Police have found two knives believed to have been disposed off by the suspect, together with the victim's handphone, she added.

Meanwhile, a member of the victim's family said the victim last communicated with her parents through short message service (SMS) asking her father to send her some food.