Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has urged Malaysian police to take “quick action” following the prolonged delay in the investigation into the acid attack on national footballer and Selangor FC star Faisal Halim.
In an interview published in The Star today, the Selangor Sultan expressed his disappointment over the delay in the probe, adding it was a “simple and clear-cut” case.
“With social media and modern technology, you cannot hide anything. I followed the case in the state assembly and hope somehow this can be resolved soon,” Sultan Sharafuddin was quoted as saying.
“This is a clear-cut case, and the incident has destroyed Faisal’s life.”
When asked by the newspaper if he believed there was a hidden hand behind the case, the Selangor Ruler replied: “To be precise, somewhere there (seems to be) a remote control. But I do not want to accuse any parties.”
He urged the authorities to resolve the case soon, adding, “the police must take quick action”.
Faisal was splashed with acid at a mall in Kota Damansara on May 5. The incident left him with a badly scarred left arm and some scarring on his face and head.
The 26-year-old footballer has returned to the field since, and fans have been waiting patiently for the police to catch the perpetrators. Several suspects were detained and questioned, but were later released. There have not been any arrests or updates since.
On May 2, Terengganu FC’s Akhyar Rashid was assaulted in Kuala Terengganu. On May 7, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player Safiq Rahim had his car’s rear windscreen smashed by unknown assailants near the club’s training centre in Jalan Seri Gelam, Johor Bahru. There have also been no updates from the police regarding the incidents involving Akhyar and Safiq.
At last year’s FA Cup final between JDT and Kuala Lumpur City FC, a fan claimed he was attacked by a member of the Johor Military Force at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru. That case, too, is pending an outcome.
