As a Malaysian and an investor in Malaysian equities, I find the recent acid attack on a senior official of Bursa Malaysia Securities very disturbing.

According to investigators, and as reported in the media, the heinous crime could be linked to the victim's work with the stock exchange where he worked in the corporate surveillance unit.

The reports also noted that there had been previous police reports about threatening calls made to the victim and damage to his car. It is safe to assume that the victim carried on with his duties fearlessly despite the threats and intimidation.

The victim's persistence in carrying out his duties is exemplary, but his persistence made the culprits even bolder, and this culminated in the acid attack in broad daylight last week.

Failing to intimidate and deter the victim earlier, the perpetrator's objective for the acid attack was clear, to maim and disfigure, as well as psychologically scar the victim. What could be the end game of the people behind the attack?

The incident raises two questions. Will the attack work in deterring the authorities such as the police and Bursa Malaysia from pursuing market players who break the rules? If the perpetrators are left unpunished, it would send a very wrong and damaging message that there is no rule of law in Malaysia. We definitely do not want Malaysia to be considered as a gangland.

Secondly, was there adequate protection given to the Bursa Malaysia senior official? The earlier intimidation would suggest that his safety had been threatened. Without such protection, how will all our enforcers of law (which include personnel from the police, MACC, Securities Commission, Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, and other relevant authorities) be able to go about their duties with some peace of mind? In fact, who would want to be a regulator, if their safety is not assured? This could also undermine the new Malaysia government’s efforts to rebuild public and investor confidence.

The police, Bursa Malaysia and other relevant authorities must get to the bottom of the matter and put those responsible for this crime behind bars. The authorities must realise that the incident wasn't simply an assault on an individual, it was an attack against the rule of law, the financial system, the regulators and market players.

This type of behaviour simply cannot be tolerated if the authorities are serious about upholding the law and cultivating good corporate governance in Malaysia.