Malaysian authorities have been ordered to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into an attack on a former minister's son that took place on Wednesday.
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said in his X post that his 12-year-old son was dragged away and stabbed with a syringe by an unknown assailant after leaving the shopping mall in Putrajaya at about 1.45pm on 13 August.
Rafizi said health checks showed his son had not experienced any immediate side effects. He said his son must undergo regular blood tests to rule out viral infections such as hepatitis or HIV.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he wants to ensure a transparent probe into the "very alarming" incident.
"I guarantee the home minister and inspector-general of police said they will act immediately, swiftly, and transparently," he told parliament on 14 August.
Rafizi has been critical of Anwar and the government since his resignation as economy minister, which came after he lost his position as deputy president in the premier's political party.
Last month, he called for a royal commission of inquiry to probe alleged political interference in the judiciary, among other concerns.
Following Anwar’s remarks, Rafizi said at a press conference, the attack on his son was “an act of intimidation” to silence. He added that his wife had received threats via text message.
One of the messages read "Shut up! If you continue, AIDS!" followed by three syringe emojis, Rafizi said.
“Throughout my time as a high-profile politician, this is the first time my family has been the target of such an attack and threats,” Rafizi said in his yesterday’s statement.
He said he believes the threats are linked to a meeting with whistleblowers last week. He did not elaborate further.
Meanwhile, local press reported in The New Straits Times that Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar confirmed officers are tracking down two male suspects and have obtained closed-circuit television footage from the mall.
The attack comes as political leaders voiced concerns over increasing incidents of violence in Malaysia.
The country saw several attacks on its soccer players, with one national footballer severely injured after he was splashed with acid by an unknown assailant at a shopping mall in 2024.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, met on 14 October to discuss bilateral ties and key regional and inte...
Afghan authorities suspended BBC FM radio broadcasts nationwide on Tuesday (13 October), citing repeated but unspecified violations. The BBC said i...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed his support for Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks, as U.S. President Donald Trump consid...
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Thousands of young Georgians leave the country each year in search of better economic opportunities, with many moving west. As questions grow over Georgia’s European path, AnewZ spoke to people who have emigrated about what it would take for them to return.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
A 62-year-old man died on Wednesday after floodwaters swept his car into the sea on the Greek island of Rhodes, as torrential rain flooded roads, stranded vehicles and disrupted transport across the island.
A failure by the U.S. and Iran to reach an agreement on a UN-backed fertiliser shipping plan for the Strait of Hormuz within weeks could trigger a food security crisis in parts of Asia and Africa, a senior UN official has warned.
Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican says the tumour was detected during a routine health check, but its stage and whether it has spread remain unknown.
Greek students braved heavy rain to pitch tents outside parliament in Athens on Tuesday, demanding affordable housing and more education funding as rising living costs put university places beyond the reach of some students.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment