A man slashed the right hand of a moneychanger with a machete and grabbed a bag containing RM700,000 in various currencies as the latter had parked his car at the airport near Georgetown today to catch a flight to Kuala Lumpur.

South West district police chief Hatta Md Zain said the 50-year-old manager of a moneychanger firm was critically injured in the hand in the 6.30 am robbery and has been admitted to Penang Hospital.

He said that as the manager parked his car at the Penang International Airport parking lot, the robber opened the driver's door of the vehicle and asked the moneychanger to hand over a bag containing money.

"When the manager hesitated, the man, in his 20s, slashed his right hand with a parang, grabbed the bag and ran to a nearby grey Proton Waja car where an accomplice was waiting with the engine running," he told Bernama.

Hatta said not many people were at the parking lot at that time of the morning.  

"The victim, who was to have gone to Kuala Lumpur on business, was sent to Penang Hospital and his condition is reported to be stable," he said.

Hatta said police have launched an operation to track down the two robbers.

The case is being investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code which provide for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping, he added.

- Bernama