Arson suspected in Perlis Mufti's car fire

KANGAR: Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin’s official car was severely damaged after it caught fire believed to be an act of sabotage in an incident at 5.45 am at his house at Jalan Persiaran Wawasan, here yesterday.

The black Honda Accord was damaged on the engine and left front tyre while both front and rear windshields were also broken.

Perlis police chief Datuk Mushar Noor Mohd said the police received a call at about 6 am yesterday with regard to the incident.

“Initial investigations do not rule out the possibility of sabotage based on the damage marks of the rear windshield and a bottle with petrol found believed to start a fire,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Noor Mushar said the fire was put out by the Fire and Rescue Department and he had directed the Forensic Unit to conduct an investigation at the scene.

Meanwhile, Mohd Asri said he was alerted to the incident while preparing to perform Subuh (dawn) prayers by his wife who saw the blaze outside their house.

“I tried to put out the fire in the car with a fire extinguisher and tried to open the engine hood but failed,” he told reporters when met at his house.

Mohd Asri said there were no important documents in the car but his books were destroyed in the fire.

“I think there is no element of sabotage because if it is, they could put my two cars on fire. I never lock my gate, I always let it open.

“I also did not suspect anyone. Malaysians are normally good in nature and we live in peace," he said.

He also left it to the police to conduct an investigation. Bernama