A number of molotov cocktails were thrown at the family home of outspoken DAP parliamentarian Chong Chieng Jen in the early hours of this morning in Kuching. No one was however hurt.

Broken glass bottles and burnt kerosene-soaked cloths were found on the ground inside the compound of Chong’s house in Tabuan Road by a family maid at 7.30am.

chong chieng jen interview 141108 01 Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP and state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa, immediately lodged a police report.

The lawyer-cum-politician told journalists that if the intention behind the attack was to intimidate him from speaking up as a representative of the people, it had not succeeded.

“Of course, I’m worried, especially for my parents and family members,” he told Malaysiakini . “But this will not stop me from speaking out on issues such as corruption.”

Chong believed the attack was politically motivated and not related to his private legal practise. He said he had not taken up any legal cases for more than two years.

In recent years, Chong have been focusing full time on his political work, particularly since he was also elected as state representative.

Chong is staying together with his father, Chong Siew Chiang, the founder chairperson of Sarawak DAP and a former state assemblyperson at his family home together with his mother, wife, who is also a lawyer, and their three children - two boys and 1 girl.

First time in his 10-year political career

According to him, his Barisan Nasional opponents were not happy by his consistent harping on a number of issues both in and outside Parliament and the state assembly.

“My opponents had also tried unsuccessfully to get me disqualified in court as MP in order to stop me from raising these issues,” Chong said.

He said that the attack had instead made him even more determined to carry on with his political struggle.

This was the first time that Chong had been threatened with petrol bombs in his 10 years of political activism.

As to whether he was going to increase security at his house, he said: “I don't have the money to do so.”

“I will go on as usual with my political work,” he added.