Attacks, threats on my family meant to dissuade me from exposing scandal, says Rafizi

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli believes that the attack on his son and threats sent to his wife are an attempt to dissuade him from investigating a scandal.

Rafizi (PH-Pandan) revealed that his wife had received threats on her phone, in the form of the message, “Diam, andai teruskan AIDS” (Quiet, or else AIDS).

Rafizi said the threats came from an unknown number at 1.12am on Thursday (Aug 14) and a second identical message with emojis of syringes from the same number at 11am on Thursday.

“This is likely an act of intimidation against me by targeting my family,” the former economy minister said in a press conference at Parliament on Thursday.

He said he had just met a group of whistleblowers regarding a scandal last Wednesday.

“Neither me nor my wife have ever received such threats before in all my years of investigating similar cases.

“Knowing that I am not afraid of being jailed or threatened, they chose to target my family instead,” he said.

Visibly distraught, Rafizi said he believed the attack was planned in advance and carried out by professionals who tracked his wife’s movements.

“I just moved house so not many people know where I live and the attack happened exactly as my wife stepped away and my son opened the car door,” he said.

Rafizi also said his 12-year-old son was in stable condition and tests showed no signs of drugs or poison.

“The concern is if the syringe contained a virus so we will take him to the hospital for blood tests over the next six months,” he said, adding that he hoped there was nothing in the syringe used to attack his son.

Despite the threat against him and his family, Rafizi said he and his wife had resolved to continue investigating any scandal.

He said his family would now have to adapt to heightened security measures to ensure their safety.