A Malaysian couple have been beaten to death by family members in a bizarre ritual to cure them of a smoking habit and illnesses, media reports said.

A 15-year-old daughter of one of the four relatives who carried out the beating was also attacked after stumbling onto the scene and is fighting for her life in hospital.

Police spokesman Ku Chin Wah told the official Bernama news agency that the attack took place when Mohamed Ibrahim Kader Mydin, 47, and his wife Rosina Mydin Pillay, 41, visited their family on Thursday (local time).

They mentioned that Mohamed Ibrahim was seeking help to stop his smoking habit, and that his wife was suffering from asthma and a liver ailment.

"Following this, a 23-year-old male relative suggested that the couple undergo a ritual which involved all family members joining forces to beat up the couple to rid them of their ailments," Mr Ku told Bernama.

The four relatives smashed the couple's heads on a table and assaulted them with crash helmets and brooms, he said.

An ambulance was called only hours later when they had not regained consciousness.

Bernama said that one of the four suspects, who are now in custody, was believed to belong to a "deviant" cult.

Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country and authorities periodically crack down on unauthorised sects.

Courtesy of the ABC