Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian man died from severe burns after an assailant, believed to be his girlfriend, set him ablaze Sunday morning, a news report said Monday.

G Ganipathi, 32, was burned on 90 per cent of his body succumbed to his injuries Sunday night, the Star daily reported.

It is believed that Ganipathi was in the toilet of a room he was renting with his girlfriend in the southern state of Johor when the suspect doused him with petrol and set him on fire.

His housemates, who heard his screams, rushed to his aid to put out the flames and sent him to hospital.

"We are currently tracking down the suspect and are confident of apprehending her soon," state police chief Ruslan Hassan said, adding that she was a 45-year-old woman. (dpa)