Police are looking into threats issued against Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said he had instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the matter.
He said this was a serious issue and police had initiated an investigation despite not receiving any report.
“I ordered the CID to start an investigation by scrutinising all threats against the chief justice. The same investigation also involves the Special Investigation Unit.
Bernama
“Police will not tolerate threats against security and public order,” he was quoted as saying.
It was reported that threats against Tengku Maimun had been detected on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, since midnight.
In the latest incident, several people on Facebook had allegedly threatened to kill her if she sentenced “innocent” individuals.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that the Tengku Maimun’s husband Zamani Ibrahim had also come under attack on social media.
One social media post warned of “bloodshed” and urged Maimun to recuse herself from hearing the appeal.
Many netizens have called on the police to investigate the threats.
Meanwhile, one set of social media users accused Zamani of authoring a Facebook post on May 11, 2018, where he expressed happiness that Najib had been “dethroned”.
The post was accessible yesterday.
However, screenshots of the post, along with Zamani’s photograph, have been widely shared by critics of the Federal Court panel hearing Najib’s final appeal.
On Maimun’s family critics, one of the persons who shared Zamani’s 2018 Facebook post was Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa.
“This is why it’s a losing battle. Every single request from Najib’s (defence) team was rejected by the court.
“It’s not justice. It is politics,” wrote Nooryana on her Instagram.
Yesterday, former politician Hamidah Osman lodged a police report on Zamani’s now inaccessible Facebook post.
In her report, Hamidah argued that Zamani’s 2018 Facebook post had tarnished the judiciary’s image.
“How can we be confident that (Justice) Maimum’s judgement will be fair and just, without being influenced by her husband?” wrote Hamidah in her report.
Another group of critics attempted to disparage Zamani’s credibility by accusing him of taking photographs in court, which was against court rules.
Zamani himself is a trained lawyer.
Meanwhile, several lawyers have come out to defend Maimun. Muda co-founder and lawyer Lim Wei Jiet said Zamani is a Malaysian citizen who has the right to air his political views.
Lim added that if it was indeed an issue, Najib’s defence team could have applied to have Maimun recused earlier but did not do so.
“Even if you want to judge (Zamani), look at the post in full. (It) was balanced, in that he was sad friends from Umno like Mohd Khaled Nordin and Mohamad Hasan had lost.
Twitter
“The point is, almost everyone had views on who should be celebrated and condemned post-GE14. Why should that mean their spouse isn’t impartial?” asked Lim on Twitter.
Similarly, DAP social media bureau chief Syahredzan Johan today hit out at “desperate” critics for attacking the chief justice’s family.
M Azhar Arif/The Star
“You see how desperate these people are? They are attacking the CJ’s family and making clear threats about blood being spilled,” wrote Syahredzan.
“It’s not justice. It is politics,” wrote Nooryana on her Instagram.
“How can we be confident that (Justice) Maimum’s judgement will be fair and just, without being influenced by her husband?” wrote Hamidah in her report.
