POLICE are investigating if there is a connection between the poison pen letter sent to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) last month and the attack on national players in the last few days.
Last month, a poison pen letter went viral on social media accusing FAM of fraud, abuse of power, mismanaging funds, discrepancies in salaries and benefits, and issues with the Harimau Malaya squad and the national training centre project.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Shuhaily Mohd Zain told the press that his men will hunt down the perpetrators involved after studying the modus operandi in the attacks.
Shuhaily said the attacks took place in Terengganu, Selangor and the latest was in Johor.
"We (Bukit Aman) have now taken over the investigation.
"We will look if the poison pen letter sent to FAM has anything to do with these attacks. We have identified the modus operandi and in the first two incidents, both players were followed by their attackers.
"We have yet to determine the exact motive," he said.
On May 2, national winger and Terengganu player Akhyar Rashid was assaulted and robbed near his residence in Kuala Terengganu.
Three days later on May 5, national winger Faisal Halim, who is also known as Mickey, suffered an acid attack at a go-kart circuit in Klang Valley.
Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) midfielder Safiq Rahim was the latest footballer to have been attacked. The 36-year-old footballer had the back windscreen of his car shattered near the JDT training centre.
He posted a photo of his smashed vehicle and the police report on his Instagram account last night.
Safiq said two men on a motorcycle came close to his car and one of them took out a hammer and smashed his windscreen.
Shuhaily urged the public not to speculate on the cases.
He added that more than 10 people have had their statements recorded including the players' family members as well as the public.
Police have so far arrested two suspects to assist in the investigations. – May 8, 2024.
