PETALING JAYA: Fearing harm to her three sons, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin beseeched the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) today to take swift action after receiving death threats purportedly from local Islamic State (IS) terrorists.
The electoral reform group chief said she received a warning through a WhatsApp message from an unknown phone number last night that she and her three children would be beheaded if the Bersih 5 rally goes on as scheduled on November 19.
“This is too much… my children have nothing to do with Bersih so I urge the IGP to act on this matter as it is a serious threat,” she told reporters after lodging the report at the police district headquarters here.
Chin did not share details of the WhatsApp message with reporters.
However, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee later emailed a statement with a transcript of the profanity-riddled message in Bahasa Malaysia.
“I know who you are, I know where you stay, and i also know who are your family and your children…
“I will fight to the end against your stupid work.. remember!!!! no more warnings!!!!”
The message ended with: “this warning is from islamic state malaysia…”
Chin, who was accompanied by other civil society activists including Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, said she had received threats in the past, but it was the first time her children were also included.
Similar warnings were made to Bersih 2.0 secretariat member Mandeep Singh and Human Rights Society president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan last night.
Ambiga, who was also present, urged the IGP to act on the matter as soon as possible.
“This time it has gone overboard and implicating Maria’s kids must be viewed seriously,” the lawyer said.
When asked about the photographs shown in the images, which the perpetrators used as pretending to severe their heads in the horrific IS-style, Chin said she believed they were pictures from their identification cards.
“It looks like our pictures have been photoshopped from our ICs,” she said.
But Chin emphasised that she will not be cowed by the threats and will go ahead with the rally next month.
“I urge everyone from all walks of life to join us on November 19 as the rally will go on,” she said.
By The Malay Mail Online