Explainer: Tragic death of former Malaysian GP racer Elly Idzlianizar

SHAH ALAM – The brutal murder of former Malaysian Moto3 and Cub Prix racer Elly Idzlianizar Elias has shocked the nation, as new details about the attack that led to his death emerge.

40-year-old Elly was fatally slashed during a brawl involving three men in Taman Behor Gonchar Jaya, Kangar, Perlis, on September 10.

He was pronounced dead at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital at 12.30am on September 11, with a post-mortem revealing excessive blood loss as the cause of death.

Sept 12: Investigation unveils motive and arrests

Kangar District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Yusharifuddin Mohd Yusop, revealed in a press conference that the fight erupted after Elly sought out a 51-year-old man, the prime suspect, with whom he had previous dealings.

Unable to locate him at home, Elly encountered the suspect at a nearby junction, leading to a confrontation, which also involved the suspect’s 31-year-old son and another individual.

Yusharifuddin said Elly sustained 10 to 12 slash wounds on his arms and body and police seized a 112cm samurai sword believed to be the murder weapon.

Three suspects, aged 28 to 51, were arrested across Kangar, with investigations revealing their criminal backgrounds, including drug offences and attempted murder charges.

"We are investigating possible ties to gangsterism, as the main suspect has nine prior records, including for attempted murder and drug-related offences,” Yusharifuddin reportedly said.

Sept 12 and Sept 13: Family demands justice

Elly’s brother, Elly Idzliaikmal Elias, expressed the family’s heartbreak and desperation for justice.

"My late brother was murdered, and I am at a loss for words. We hope the police will conduct a transparent investigation. We, the family, seek justice, true justice for the deceased,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by the rest of the family, as the community mourned the loss of a beloved figure in the Malaysian racing scene.

Elly’s remains were laid to rest at the Utan Aji Muslim Cemetery on Sept 11, after a post-mortem at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

Elly's mother, Fadzilah Bakar, 61, described her son as a calm and even-tempered person who had been living a quiet life with her since suffering complications from a racing injury several years ago.

She recounted her last conversation with Elly, mentioning how he had gone to a nearby shop, behaving normally before the fatal incident.

"I even walked him to the car and closed the gate after him. He was not angry or upset at all," she recalled.

Hours later, the family was notified of the fatal fight.

Fadzilah also said that Elly had been a good son and his quiet life involved taking his children to school, praying at the mosque and spending time reading the Al-Quran.

Elly's mother hopes that the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation and that her son’s death will not go unpunished.

The tragedy has also moved singer Aweera, Elly’s cousin, to speak out. The 33-year-old Mojo band vocalist expressed his grief and called for justice on Instagram.

"The person you slashed was my flesh and blood. I hope there is justice for Ijar (Elly)." He further urged his followers to offer prayers for his cousin.

Although overwhelmed by grief, Aweera said that he was not ready to make further public statements, emphasising the importance of allowing the family to process the loss.

Sept 17: Remand of suspects extended

As the investigation continued, the remand of the three suspects was extended for another six days starting Sept 18.

Yusharifuddin confirmed that the remand was necessary to assist further investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which pertained to murder charges.

Sept 23: Suspect charged with murder

On Sept 23, contractor Ibrahim Johan, 51, was formally charged with Elly’s murder at the Magistrate’s Court in Kangar.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the death penalty or a minimum sentence of 30 to 40 years in prison, was read before Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor.

Ibrahim nodded in understanding but no plea was recorded as the case awaits transfer to the High Court.

The court set Dec 30 for the next mention of the case.

Elly’s legacy in Malaysian motorsports

Elly’s death was not only a personal tragedy for his family but also a loss for Malaysia’s motorsports community.

He first rose to prominence in the Cub Prix racing scene, where his talent quickly caught the attention of top manufacturers like Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki.

He achieved multiple victories and was selected to represent Malaysia in the wildcard rider programme for the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Despite injuries that ended his racing career prematurely, Elly remained involved in the sport, training young riders and contributing to the racing community.