Attack on son, 12, is a warning to silence him, says former KL minister

Graft critic Rafizi Ramli's child was jabbed with a syringe at a carpark in broad daylight

- Azril Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR - The wife of former Malaysian Cabinet minister Rafizi Ramli received two chilling messages just hours after a shocking attack on their son on Aug 13 in broad daylight.

One of the WhatsApp messages read: "Diam! Andai teruskan, Aids!" (Shut up! If you continue, Aids!) It was followed by three syringe emojis.

The MP from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which leads Malaysia's governing coalition, said the attack on his family was "a warning to me not to speak out on certain issues".

"While I will take steps to enhance security measures, I will not bow to any threats and will continue to carry out my duties as usual," Datuk Seri Rafizi, 47, said at a press conference on Aug 14 at the Parliament lobby, surrounded by several PKR lawmakers.

He has been using a weekly podcast and social media postings to lash out on corruption and governance issues in the last few weeks, after resigning as economy minister in May.

The brazen attack on his 12-year-old son, carried out at about 1.45pm at a mall carpark in Putrajaya equipped with CCTV cameras, sent Malaysia reeling. This is because politically linked physical attacks are rare, despite the rough-and-tumble nature of domestic politics and it is even more alarming this time as it involves a child.