Police tracking man who issued ‘rape threat’ against G25’s Noor Farida

Perak police are searching for a Facebook account owner who allegedly 'threatened' G25 spokesman Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 20, 2015.The police in Perak are looking for a Facebook account owner who allegedly posted a "threat" against G25 spokesperson Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin last week, the state's Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Goh Kok Liang said.

He said three police reports have been lodged so far – two in Penang and one in Perak.

"We are in the midst of tracking down the man responsible for the posting with the help of Malaysians Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)."

Goh said the reports were made about two weeks ago.

He added the case was being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 233 of the MCMC Act.

Acknowledging that the perpetrator was still active on Facebook, Goh said police were working closely with MCMC to trace his whereabouts.

Facebook user, Sharul Nizam Ab Rahim had posted on the social media site last week that he would break into Noor Farida’s home, lie on her bed and “try” her.

After the rape threat, Noor Farida told Star Online that she received another threat to harm her on social media.

She said the message, which included the phrase “darah orang sebegini adalah halal” (the blood of this kind of person is permissible) was brought to her attention by someone else.

She described it as a message filled with the "Isis terrorists" mentality.

She told the news portal that the message came about because her recent statements calling for a review of shariah laws had been "blown out of proportion" by some irresponsible media outlets.

On this, Goh said police had yet to receive any report on the second threat made against Noor Farida.

At a G25 public forum earlier this month, Noor Farida had spoken about the need to review shariah laws that interfered in Muslims' personal lives. She had cited “khalwat” (close proximity between the opposite sex) laws as an example.

She also received support from 48 civil society groups condemning the threat of sexual assault as a way to silence views on critical matters affecting Malaysia’s democracy.

Noor Farida, however, is under investigation for sedition after police reports were lodged against her for her remarks on shariah law.

- TMI