Malaysian man killed in Australia has overstayed: police

The Malaysian man who was bashed to death in Melbourne was a tourist who had overstayed his visa in Australia, local press reported Wednesday.

Australian police said Lim Leong, 45, arrived in Sydney on a tourist visa in December 2005. His visa expired last March but Immigration records showed the man did not leave the country.

"We urge anyone who knew of Lim's movements or with whom he associated with to come forward as we are trying to piece together the circumstances that led to his death, as well as his movements since he entered the country," the police spokesman was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

The Malaysian national was assaulted with what is believed to be a metal rod by a man last Saturday outside a McDonald's outlet in Melbourne. Police believed Lim was walking along the street when a man approached him.

Australian police have ruled out racial issues as the motive for the attack, although police declined to elaborate on this point.

Lim's family are currently making arrangements to bring his remains back to Malaysia, said the report.