KUALA LUMPUR – There is no need to be “smarter” than the police as arson investigations are ongoing, Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth tells DAP’s Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham.
PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said a police report had been lodged against Ngeh’s accusations yesterday linking PAS and Bersatu to the arson of his home in Ayer Tawar, Perak.
Fadhli added that Ngeh’s statement was disrespectful and speculative as investigations were still ongoing.
“We extend our condolences to Ngeh for what happened to his house and assets. These actions are not acceptable in a democratic country, no matter our differences.
“We hope he gets justice for this,” he told reporters after lodging a report at the Kajang police station today.
“Let the police investigate. There is no need to be smarter than the police.”
Fadhli, however, said Ngeh should have left it to the police to probe the matter instead of concluding that it could be due to the media statement he issued on December 28.
The PAS man also expressed gratitude to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for urging the public to refrain from speculating on the issue.
Also present at the press conference was Bersatu Youth Chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
Ngeh had contended that the opposition played a role in exacerbating the situation by distorting his statement, fuelling hatred towards him, particularly within the Muslim community.
“In response to my media statement, PAS and Bersatu leaders accused me of meddling in Islamic matters by distorting the statement.
“I only made suggestions on the federal constitution, but they (the opposition) claimed I suggested electing non-Muslim law experts to amend Islamic law.
“It was said (by the opposition) that I was intervening on the harmonisation of the shariah court institution with non-Muslim specialists…this is a big lie.”
Ngeh confirmed that at approximately 2.15am yesterday, his Mercedes-Benz E300 was engulfed in flames, prompting him to alert police and the Fire and Rescue Department. Authorities then discovered a Molotov cocktail near the house around 3am.
On December 28, Ngeh’s statement proposing the inclusion of a non-Muslim constitutional law expert and a representative from the Malaysian Bar in the special committee on shariah laws drew criticism from Malay leaders on both sides of the political divide. – January 11, 2024