Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Azmin Ali was attacked by four unknown assailants armed with a parang and an iron rod in front of his residence in Ampang today.

The driver's seat window of his car - a Volkswagen Golf GTI - was smashed in the incident that took place at about 12.30pm when Azmin went home prior performing his Friday prayers.

Azmin has just arrived at his house and was parking his car when two of the assailants came into his porch armed with the parang and metal rod.

Azmin, who sustained minor injuries, does not rule out the possibility of the attack being politically-motivated. He said the assailants only demanded for his mobile phone.

"They pressed the two-feet-long parang to my stomach and repeatedly asked me where is my mobile phone. Surprisingly, they didn't ask for anything valuable," he told a press conference at his residence later in the afternoon.

"After I gave them my mobile phone, they asked what else I had and I gave them about RM2,000 cash that I had with me. They left after that," he recounted.

Azmin described himself was 'quite panicking' during the attack which was over in about five minutes. He said the four assailants were smartly-dressed and did not cover their faces.

'A lot of questions'

The group came in a grey Proton Wira Aeroback of which Azmin noted down the registration number and handed over to the police.

"There are a lot of questions raised. If it was a robbery, why didn't they come into my house and search for something valuable? They only demanded for my mobile phone," he argued.

During the incident, only Azmin's maid and his youngest son, Mohamed Yusuf Al Sadiq, 5 (pix, right), were at home.

A police report was lodged at the Ampang police station immediately after the incident.

According to Azmin, police arrested one suspect within three hours after they tracked down a car along Jalan Ampang matching the car registration number provided.

"The police say they do not rule out that the incident could be politically motivated. They told me they will be investigating whether there is any connection between the suspect and any political party," he said.

The politician pointed out that it was not the first time he has faced such threatening episodes as there was an attempt to burn one of his cars during the wee hours last year.

'Anything can happen'

When asked whether he has received or kept any important information on his mobile phone, Azmin appeared evasive and merely said he had about 1,500 contact numbers in his mobile phone address book.

On the incident, he said: "Anything can happen in today's political environment. Like the Mongolian woman who was blown up with C4 plastic explosives [...] I won't rule out any possibility for this attack."

PKR deputy secretary-general Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and Azmin's supporters and relatives were also present during the press conference.