KUALA LUMPUR – Crackhouse Comedy Club co-founder Rizal van Geyzel has lodged a police report over death threats that were made against his family, believed to have stemmed from recent controversies.
He told The Vibes that the situation now requires immediate police attention after his wife received threats through her mobile number around 4.30am today.
“I’ve received lots of threats before this – name calling, swear words, verbal abuse etc – to the point I had to change my mobile number, but this is the first time this is directed at my family.
“One death threat was made previously but we didn’t make a police report as the issue was still ongoing.”
Rizal briefly said that the threats included profanities and “this is just the start”, alluding to further intimidation towards his family.
The report, lodged at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail station around 5pm today, was to ensure the safety of his family. However, Rizal said he is unable to reveal details as the matter is now a police investigation.
Earlier, The Vibes reported the club was vandalised, days after police said they are investigating him for sedition, among others.
The club, which is on the second floor of a row of shophouses in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, saw its signboard and ground floor entrance vandalised with paint. Paint residue can also be seen on the road in front of the building.
Meanwhile, posters that lined the walls of the stairs leading up to the club are also damaged.
It was previously reported that Bersatu Associate Wing information chief S. Gobi Krishnan had lodged a police report against Rizal for allegedly insulting Malays in a viral video where he had spoken in Tamil.
Similarly, Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia Johor chairman Tazul Arifin Nasri had filed police reports against Rizal at the district police headquarters of south Johor Baru and Shah Alam.
The Semboyan Malaysia Consumers Association had also taken their grouses to the Brickfields district police headquarters, with its chairman Yusuf Azmi asserting that members will hold a protest on the comedy club’s premises if authorities do not permanently shut down the business.
Recently, the comedy club was embroiled in controversy following a viral video of a woman claiming to be a Muslim and to have memorised 15 chapters (juzuk) of the Quran before stripping off her headscarf and baju kurung during an open mic comedy skit at the club on June 4.
Siti Nuramira Abdullah, 26, pleaded not guilty against charges of inciting religious disharmony during her stunt.
It is learnt that she will be re-arrested and charged under Section 7 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997, relating to insulting, or bringing into contempt, etc. the religion of Islam. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
