Fahmi: Rafizi won't be cowed into silence by attack on son

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is unlikely to be "cowed into silence" by the attack on his 12-year-old son at a mall in Putrajaya yesterday.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said, if the syringe attack was meant to warn the vocal politician against making certain statements, then it was unlikely to succeed.
He said Rafizi has faced court action and political pressure before, but was known to respond to intimidation with even greater resolve.
"I don't think someone like Rafizi will be cowed into silence by something like this. He has been brought to court before and is very familiar with pressure... the more he is pressured, the more he fights back," he said after officiating the Mercu Tanda Kampung Kerinchi.
Fahmi was asked by reporters to comment on the attack.
He stressed that it was too early to conclude whether the incident was politically motivated as investigations are still ongoing.
"The police are still investigating, so we leave it to them to determine what really happened. It is too early for me to comment on that," he said.
Fahmi condemned the act in the strongest terms and called for swift action against those responsible.
"This is something we absolutely cannot accept. I hope those involved will be caught and brought to justice quickly," he said.
Two men were reported to have approached the boy and stabbed him with a syringe before fleeing.
Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar had said investigators had reviewed CCTV footage from the scene and were tracking down two male suspects.
The boy is in stable condition and receiving hospital treatment.
Rafizi said this was the first time his family had been targeted and believes the act was a warning aimed at silencing him on certain issues.
However, he vowed not to bow to threats and to continue his work as usual.