KUALA LUMPUR – Subang MP Wong Chen said that he now feels less safe as a legislator under the current government compared to his time in the Opposition, calling the situation ironic.
This sentiment follows a recent blackmail attempt targeting him, which has left him feeling increasingly vulnerable in his role.
He said in a statement that the blackmail incident, which was first reported on September 12, 2025, involved a threatening email sent to his Parliamentary office’s general complaints inbox.
The email contained a menacing message, a screenshot of a man lying on a bed with a naked individual, and a QR code linked to a cryptocurrency wallet. The message threatened to release a fabricated sex video unless a payment of USDT100,000 (approximately RM470,000) was made.
While this blackmail attempt was not new information, what is significant now is Wong Chen’s emotional response to the event. He described feeling unsafe as an elected official, a stark contrast to his experience as an Opposition MP.
“This attack has made me question the safety of myself and my family,” he said, adding that the blackmail had made him feel more vulnerable than ever before.
Upon receiving the email, Wong Chen’s officer immediately showed it to him, but they refrained from clicking on any links or scanning the QR code.
Instead, they went straight to the Subang Jaya police station to file a report. The police responded swiftly, assuring Wong Chen that investigations would begin promptly.
Wong Chen later discovered that fellow MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli had also been targeted with the same blackmail attempt. Both MPs received nearly identical emails with the same blackmail photo, with their faces swapped.
“It was such a lazy and unprofessional attempt,” Wong Chen remarked, noting that the photo had been poorly executed. “The bed, the room, even the pillows were the same. The only difference was our faces.”
He also addressed the spread of false information online, particularly claims that his phone had been hacked and a sex video extracted.
“These rumours are completely false. There was no hacking of my phone or any video taken from it,” Wong Chen clarified, urging people to stop circulating fake news.
Despite the failed blackmail attempt, Wong Chen expressed growing concerns about the implications of such threats.
“I’ve been a Member of Parliament for 13 years, and I’ve never faced anything like this before,” he said. “This has made me feel unsafe as a legislator, especially under the current government.”
He also noted the coincidence of the timing, with both he and Rafizi being targeted on the same day.
“These attacks may not be a coincidence. It could be part of a larger effort to intimidate MPs who speak out and challenge the government,” he suggested, expressing concern that the blackmail was an attempt to silence dissenting voices in Parliament.
Wong Chen vowed to pursue every lead in the investigation.
“I’ve already reached out to IT and cryptocurrency experts to trace the identity behind the blackmail. Once I have more evidence, I will report it to Bank Negara and the Securities Commission,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to continue his work as an MP, despite the intimidation.
“These attacks won’t stop me. I will continue to speak out against corruption and injustice without fear,” he said, emphasising that such attempts to silence him and other MPs will not deter him from fulfilling his duties. – September 14, 2025