Being under the constant public spotlight, politicians have received more than their fair share of death threats.
But just how seriously does a politician need to take each threat he or she receives?
The Star quoted Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, a controversial figure in Parliament, who said, “Those threatened should make reports. If you take threats for granted, you may never know if they (the alleged aggressors) will act on them. It is better to be safe than sorry.”
“Threats of any nature must not be taken too lightly. Especially ones concerning political figures because their line of work requires facing the public constantly,” Parti Keadilan Rakyat communications director Fahmi Fadzil concurred.
As one who has been on the receiving end of death threats, Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong stressed on the importance of maintaining security.
According to The Star, in September 2012, Chua received four Chinese hell bank notes worth a total of 32 billion attached to a newspaper clipping of Chua’s challenge to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
“We must always take precautions and ensure safeguards but there is no way to guarantee absolute safety,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.
Two days ago, high-profile opposition leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng both received death threats by a Twitter user with the name “MoonYue18″.
In the tweet, Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, was called a “cheater” and that he “will die next week”.
The same user then directed another tweet at Anwar “Ini Melayu langsi lu mati” (Don’t be arrogant or you will die) and attached a video depicting Anwar’s relationship with Umno.
The anonymous Twitter account had been sending mostly political messages since June.
DAP’s Lim promptly lodged a report on Thursday night, fearing for his safety.
Anwar, who is no stranger to controversies, has made a number of police reports before following threats made to him – according to PKR legal adviser Latheefa Koya (pic).
“A report for this incident is not necessary as it was done in a public session, so we will let the police take note of the situation. We are vigilant, but as a party leader, the authorities have a responsibility to watch over his safety”, The Star quoted her as saying.
Another opposition politician called death threats an “occupational hazard”, especially for those on this side of the political divide.
“We report them with the hope that the police will treat the case with equal weight, as if it was any other politician or even the PM were threatened,” said Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming.
Bukit Aman public relations officer ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf told The Star that necessary action would be taken once the reports are made. But it would be up to the victim to decide on the severity of the threat, he added.
“It is up to the individual. Anyone who is a victim of a crime should make a report. This will allow an official investigation that will be made impartially according to police procedure.”
Other cases of death threats received by politicians include Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayan – five bullets wrapped in a plastic bag were thrown on to the front yard of his house last month; PAS Unit Amal Juhari Osman, who in May 2012 was sent an envelope containing a bullet and a note with his picture; and, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who received an online threat on her blog in 2009 not long after her house was hit by two Molotov cocktails in 2008. – September 14, 2013.
