Killing was an act of terror

SECTION 130B (2) and (3) of our Penal Code defines a “terrorist act” as an act that may reasonably be regarded as being intended to intimidate the public, which involves serious bodily injury to a person, causes a person’s death, and/or involves the use of explosives or other lethal devices (summarised for purpose of application to present context).

I remember the night my wife showed me the video of a man being brutally attacked in a busy petrol station. While I did not see the stabbing, the scene of the men battering the victim and then getting into the car to deliberately mow him down twice left an impression on me.

When I read the news coverage of the incident on the same night and found out what had happened, the image of the attack replayed over and over in my head not just because of its brutality but for the brazen way it was committed in our neighbourhood, our country, and on our civil society. It was as if the law did not exist. For a moment, the concept of our civil society was shaken and my belief in the law, the enforcement that is there to protect us, had failed us.

I was traumatised and shocked by the act and I believe I am not alone. It was an act without a place in our country.

Since the day of the incident, I have been waiting for someone to speak up, take action and reassure me that it is being taken seriously. I have been waiting for someone to tell me we are safe and that the perpetrators will be caught to face the full extent of the law.

It was a breath of relief when our Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Inspector-General of Police came out to give assurance that this incident is being taken seriously and that a task force has been formed to hunt the perpetrators down.

The attack was an act of terror; we cannot be made to believe that such an act have a place in this country we call home. We cannot be led to think that there are quarters who believe they can commit such an act in our country and get away with it.

I need closure; we all need it.

CONCERNED MALAYSIAN

Kuala Lumpur