Cops nab ‘Pekida member’

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested a 38-year-old man to facilitate investigations into a threat issued against Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Fuzi Harun said the Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida) member was detained at Jalan Beverly Height here at 4.40am on Saturday.

He said a report was lodged against the man on May 31, and that the threat was allegedly issued via social media.

“The report was lodged after an article about a man wanting to go to war and shoot Dr Mahathir went viral. The suspect claims his Facebook account was hacked by irresponsible parties,” Fuzi said.

He said the suspect would be remanded until tomorrow.

Pekida denied that one of its members had been arrested.

Selangor Pekida chief Mohamad Syahrir Abdul Aziz said it had checked its records and found that no such member existed.

“The individual arrested is not our member. Yes, the Pekida Selangor secretary lodged a report, but it was to urge police to investigate the threat made by someone who is not a member.”

He did not discount the possibility that police might have been confused over the matter.

“We were the ones who informed them of the issue, and even lodged a report so that it could be investigated.”