KUALA LUMPUR – Police must also consider attempted murder in their probe into the recent arson attack on Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham’s residence, said Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.
He said the intention to cause death could not be ruled out, since the offence was committed “at a time when the victims were asleep and helpless”.
“The fact that the act was carried out in the wee hours of the morning indicates a strong possibility that the perpetrator(s) had the intention to inflict more harm than what actually occurred,” Ramkarpal, who is from DAP like Ngeh, said in a statement today.
He said the January 10 arson attack should be investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, after noting the statement by Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri yesterday that investigations were under Section 435, which deals with mischief by fire.
Police yesterday arrested a male suspect in his 30s over the 3am arson attack on Ngeh’s residence in Ayer Tawar, Perak.
A Mercedes-Benz was completely destroyed while two other vehicles and the porch ceiling and roof were damaged. No one was injured.
Ramkarpal said the attack, which occurred in the wake of Ngeh’s apology for making remarks deemed offensive to Muslims, was a major cause for concern and had been rightly condemned by parties from both sides of the political divide.
“Therefore, the investigation into this matter must include finding out the motive behind the attack, on whether the culprit was induced or incited to commit the offence following statements made by irresponsible parties,” Ramkarpal, a former deputy law minister, said.
If the culprit had committed the attack following statements from irresponsible parties, the person could be prosecuted under Section 505 of the Penal Code for the offence of making statements with intent to provoke a particular race, he added.
Perak police earlier today told Scoop the suspect in remand was not affiliated with any political party, and had travelled from Selangor to Perak to allegedly commit the attack on Ngeh’s residence. – January 13, 2024