KOTA KINABALU: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasises that the prompt police action in recent cases is motivated by the urgency and seriousness of the offence, rather than the status of those involved.
“This is not about Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’ son per se, but about the police’s duty to ensure public safety, especially for children,” he told reporters here on Thursday (Aug 14).
Saifuddin Nasution said he contacted Rafizi after the incident to assure him that police would do everything possible to track down the perpetrators.
“I assured him that the police will do everything possible to identify and apprehend those responsible, and he expressed appreciation for these efforts. I also wish his son a speedy recovery from the trauma and good health for his wife,” he added.
Saifuddin Nasution was in Sabah for a series of meetings, including for the Main Committee on the Management of Foreign Nationals in Sabah, which was co-chaired with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at the Menara Kinabalu, here.
On Aug 13, Rafizi’s 12-year-old son was physically attacked by two unknown individuals at a shopping mall in Putrajaya earlier that day.
The incident occurred at about 1.45pm as his wife and son were getting into their car. His son was also pricked with a syringe.
In an update on Thursday, Rafizi said his son was in stable condition and tests showed no signs of drugs or poison.
However, the concern persisted about whether the syringe contained a virus, and the family would continue hospital blood tests over the next six months.
He also claimed his wife had received threatening messages from an unknown number at 1.12am on Thursday, followed by a second identical message, accompanied by syringe emojis, from the same number at 11am.
“This is likely an act of intimidation against me by targeting my family,” said the former economy minister, adding that he had just met a group of whistleblowers regarding a scandal the day before the attack.
Despite the threats, Rafizi said he and his wife remained committed to pursuing investigations into any wrongdoing.
He added that the family would now have to adapt to heightened security measures to ensure their safety.
