Cops received 5 reports on death threats against Nik Elin - Saifuddin

 

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police have received five reports of death threats made against lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid so far.

He said all five reports were lodged in Kuala Lumpur.

“We have been monitoring from Perlis all the way to Sabah. However, reports have only been made in Kuala Lumpur.

“Four of the reports were made in Desa Sri Hartamas and one in Jinjang.

“As of now, the police are not clear on how many (actual death threats are made),” he said, adding that the authorities do not view the matter lightly.

The minister said this at a press conference in Cheras today.

Saifuddin also urged the public to maintain peace and harmony, and that action would be taken against those who issue death threats.

On Wednesday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Allaudeen Abdul Majid said police have opened three investigation papers on threats made against the lawyer, with one of them having already been completed.

“Police are still investigating the other two, and we expect to wrap up the probes soon and submit them to the prosecution,” Allaudeen was quoted by Berita Harian.

Storm over Federal Court ruling

Nik Elin’s three police reports were made after she received several death threats over her constitutional challenge to provisions under the Kelantan syariah law.

They include threats to sembelih (slaughter) Nik Elin.

Lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid

Last week, a Federal Court bench of nine judges in an 8-1 majority decision allowed a petition by Nik Elin and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman to nullify 18 Kelantan syariah criminal provisions.

The court ruled that Kelantan’s legislature exceeded its state-making power contained in the State List (List II) of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

However, the apex court only allowed 16 out of the 18 to be invalidated.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin declined to comment on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s jibe towards the judiciary for allegedly being influenced by colonial thinking.

“I would rather take original questions from reporters, than questions quoting other sources.

“I respect that reporters have the ability to ask more original questions,” he said.