An Umno division leader has lambasted PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli for joking about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s life.

Describing the “atomic bomb” remark as a “stupid joke”, Syed Ali Alhabshee said the opposition politician should exercise more wisdom befitting his position.

"Although it is a stupid joke, and he admitted it is a joke, there is an element of threat which is very serious and violated the law,” he added.

The Cheras Umno division leader said the remark should not be taken lightly as it amounted to criminal intimidation.

“If he wants to make a stupid joke, do it properly and it should not involve human lives especially that of the country's leader.

“Rafizi’s target was Najib who is also Umno president and this shows malice,” he argued.

Syed Ali said it had become a norm for opposition leaders to find reasons to deny their statements when investigated by the police.

"Rafizi needs to be brought to justice, as this does not only involve Najib, but a threat to use a bomb. It is serious and affects the security of the country,” he added in a blog post.

During a recent ceramah in Kuala Kangsar, the PKR leader had urged voters to support Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli, who is a nuclear physicist.

He joked that if elected, Termizi would be asked to hurl an atomic bomb at Najib in Parliament.

This led several local residents to file police reports against the Pandan lawmaker.

Rafizi later said he was merely joking, and hoped that the police would see the lighter side of his comments.

However, this was not to be the case.

This morning, Perak police chief Ab Rahim Hanafi confirmed that an investigation had been opened under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.