The phones have been buzzing since Terengganu FC footballer Akhyar Rashid was assaulted during a ‘robbery’ in Kuala Terengganu on May 2.
The rumour mill has since gone into overdrive, as two other footballers – Selangor FC’s Faisal Halim, and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) Safiq Rahim – were also attacked. Some of the allegations seem far-fetched, while others, pretty believable. Yet, none of the ‘conspiracy theorists’ have a shred of evidence to back up their claims, even as the Royal Malaysia Police probes the incidents.
The series of attacks, just days apart, have gained traction outside the country – sending shivers down the spines of other footballers, and even officials. Acid was splashed on Faisal at a shopping mall in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, on May 5. Last night, JDT’s Safiq Rahim had his car’s rear windscreen smashed by unknown assailants near the club’s training centre in Jalan Seri Gelam, Johor Bahru.
These incidents have cast a spectre on the new Malaysian Football League (MFL) season, which kicks off with the Charity Shield (also known as Sultan Ahmad Shah Cup) match between JDT and Selangor FC this Friday. Following the attack on Faisal, the Red Giants had requested for the match to be postponed. It remains unclear if the guardians of the league will oblige.
While all three incidents have got the nation on edge, the episode involving Faisal has certainly shocked ordinary Malaysians. Faisal suffered fourth-degree burns, with experts weighing in on the seriousness of his injuries and the mental scarring the attack would have on him. There are fears that the national star may not see action on the field again.
The last time Malaysians were shocked by a spate of acid attacks was in 2011, in the Klang Valley. Police even set up a task force, comprising officers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, to hunt down those involved, all while urging the public “not to speculate”.
It’s the same this time around, with members of the public being reminded constantly: “Don’t speculate!”
It stands to reason that the best way to kill speculation, is for the police to issue periodic and timely updates into high-profile cases, such as this.
Many have not forgotten the episode involving a fan who was allegedly assaulted during the FA Cup final between JDT and Kuala Lumpur City FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on July 22, 2023. Ten months on, the status of that case remains unclear.
At a press conference in Bukit Aman on Nov 8, 2023, this writer had asked the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, if there were any updates on the case. He replied: “I’ll have to check first”. There have not been any updates since.
Twentytwo13 even wrote to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, on April 29, and again, yesterday, enquiring if the investigation papers on the alleged fan assault had been submitted. There has not been any answers to date.
It’s rather hypocritical when the authorities expect people not to speculate, but offer no updates regarding the status of these cases. Perhaps, the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, can take the lead by asking the authorities about the status of the case involving the fan. After all, she had posted on X, “No violence in sports!” after news of Faisal’s attack broke. No violence in sports would also include no violence against fans, one would presume.
The best way to curb speculation is for the police to provide timely and periodic updates, regarding past, and current cases. Surely, anything coming from the police would not jeopardise on-going investigations. Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, on May 6, demanded that the Royal Malaysia Police immediately investigate the recent case.
With a royal decree coming from Sultan Sharafuddin, who is also the patron of Selangor FC, hopefully, the general public will get the lowdown of what took place and learn the motivations behind those attacks and the actors involved.
While the police should be given the space to investigate the latest string of attacks, let’s start with the updates from last year’s FA Cup final bust-up, shall we?
Editor’s note: After this article was published, MFL announced that the Charity Shield would proceed as scheduled.