A mob of 50 Indonesian construction workers hacked two men and a toddler to death after a "misunderstanding", police said today.

The cause of the row between the workers, from restive Aceh province, and the victims, also from Indonesia, was being investigated, said Shah Gzali Khan Shahadad, police chief in Kuala Langat district, west of the capital.

Afandi Ali, 30 and his 18-month-old daughter Nurul Izati died from slash wounds to the neck and back after Sunday's attack, Shah Gzali was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

The other victim, Mohamd Hasdar, 20, had slash wounds on his head. Afandi's wife, Kadijah Omar, 30, was in a local hospital with severe head wounds.

Shah Gzali said police believed the mob also torched three houses in the village. - AFP