THE POLICE are in the process of collecting closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the vicinity of the house of Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham which was attacked with a Molotov cocktail in the pre-dawn hours yesterday.
The footage may be crucial in finding the party directly involved in the criminal incident as the police also step up security around the house of the DAP lawmaker.
Perak Police Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said they have recorded statements from seven individuals regarding the arson attack on the house at Lorong Semarak Jaya in Ayer Tawar town, which is about 60km from Ipoh.
There have been no arrests made so far.
“Police are also monitoring and increasing patrol around the MP’s residential area,” he said in a statement today.
Yusri stressed said the investigators are obtaining CCTV footage from the area while getting technical assistance and statements from witnesses to identify the suspect or suspects.
The case is being investigated under section 435 of the Penal Code for “mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage”.
At noon yesterday, Ngeh told a press conference that the house was not fitted with CCTV equipment as he had not felt the need to do so.
He said that his family lived in Ayer Tawar for five generations and did not harbour enmity with anyone there.
He added that he had not received any threatening call or message prior to the attack.
“Looks like I have to install a CCTV now, one that is sophisticated (‘canggih’),” said Ngeh, a former Perak Assembly speaker and ex-state executive councillor.
He expressed gratitude to the police as well as the Fire and Rescue Department for responding to his emergency call very promptly, thus preventing the flames from spreading.
“The house could have been burned down completely if not for their quick action,” he said.
The porch of his house and three cars were burnt when the Molotov cocktail was hurled into the premise at about 2.50am.
The Ayer Tawar Fire and Rescue Station had rushed its personnel and vehicles to the scene as soon as they received an emergency call at 3.05am.
No one was injured. The operation ended at 4.44am after the fire was extinguished.
The vehicles that got burnt were a Mercedes E300, a Honda CRV and a Toyota Hilux.
Ngeh pointed to parties who had “manipulated” a statement he had made on December 28 by falsely giving a picture that he was interfering in Muslim affairs and even claiming that he was anti-Islamic.
He suggested that the attacker may have been influenced by such rhetoric.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has reportedly said that the police are looking at various angles in their investigation into the alleged arson attack, including collecting intelligence information from the Special Branch and also public tip-offs. – The Vibes, January 11, 2024
