Imagine surfing the web and finding a death threat against you staring you in the face.

Bar Council Human Rights Committee co-chairperson Andrew Khoo has every reason to be angry with the article written about him in a hate-monger blog, but what shocked him the most was the ability of an anonymous person to post a death threat against him based on some false allegations.

It was learnt that the article was based on Khoo’s recent appearance on behalf of the Malaysian Bar at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Period Review of Malaysia in Geneva, Switzerland, in March this year.

The article makes the false claim that Khoo’s job at the United Nations was to tarnish the name of Malaysia. The article further states that Khoo was so influential that even an African country such as Angola criticised Malaysia’s human rights record.

As further proof of his so-called influence, the blog cited Vietnam’s recent refusal, in early September, to allow Khoo to enter the country.  

In response, the death threat was anonymously posted by one of the readers of the blog. Another reader labelled Khoo as a ‘cinabeng kumanis’ (Chinese communist), while another called him a traitor.

The blog, among others, carried stories such as ‘Anwar’s lies, deception and slander revealed: Qardawi, Altantuya and Scorpene’ and ‘No matter how deceiving the defence lawyers were in their arguments, Anwar is publicly judged ‘Guilty’.’

Even Universiti Malaya Students Union (PMUM) chief Fahmi Zainol ( right ) was not spared for his recent efforts to organise a talk by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the university campus.

The blog also attempts to discredit PAS, using slogans such as: ‘Supporting Islam, you are safe; supporting PAS, you will go astray’ and ‘It is not PAS’ priority to protect the aqidah. As long as there are votes, PAS will not be bothered about Islam and the Muslim community’.

“If they can make such threats,” Khoo said, “who knows, someday, they may carry out the threat as well. Be it me or anyone else, this sort of threat should be nipped in the bud. Such death threats have no place in civilised discourse and need to be dealt with immediately.”

Khoo wants both the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate the owner(s) of the blog as well as trace the person who posted the death threat.

“It is criminal intimidation,” he said. “The law is clear. There are no two ways about it.”

Khoo said he only came to realise there was such an article about him in the blog when he happened to be surfing the web on Monday night.

“The article was dated Sept 11, 2014. Some of the comments made about me were false and were lies,” he stated in the police report, lodged at the Jalan Travers Police Station in Brickfields on Nov 6.

Khoo was subsequently interviewed by an investigating officer, and had his statement recorded.

However, in the comments that were posted by readers, there was one comment dated Sept 13 by an unnamed person, who said: ‘Just kill him!!!  Talking a lot is useless, just hire someone to shoot him dead, end of story’.

Strong condemnation

One of the first few who condemned the blog was former Bersih 2.0 steering committee co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

“I am appalled that upright members of our society who uphold justice and who work tirelessly in the public interest must be subjected to such intimidation,” she said. “Unfortunately, because so many people are allowed to get away with it, it is becoming more frequent. I condemn this in the strongest terms.”

Ambiga ( left ) was also threatened by some pro-Umno demonstrators who carried out a ‘butt dance’ in front of her house during the lead up to the last general election. However, to date the authorities have not taken any action against them.

Commenting on the death threat, Bersih’s chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said it was shocking and shameless of the perpetrator to be hiding behind anonymity and to use violence to threaten and silence dissenting views.

“If the person disagrees with Andrew’s view s/he should debate the issues. As it is, blank shots are fired with no clear explanations,” she said.

Tindak Malaysia chairperson PY Wong said he expects more from the country, being a moderate nation.

“We should be able to discuss our differences rationally without resorting to threats of violence,” Wong said. “We appeal to all to act rationally and moderately.”