Zayn's family can lodge report over safety concerns - minister

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin’s family should lodge a police report if they feel threatened after details of the boy’s murder case report were allegedly leaked.

New Straits Times quoted Saifuddin as reaffirming that the police have a duty to investigate all reports lodged.

“If there is any party, in this case, the family members, for instance, who feel threatened, they should report the matter to the police.

“That is the fundamental function of the police force (to investigate),” he said at a press conference after the launch of a Jiwa Komuniti Madani programme at the Bandar Baharu Community Sports Complex in Kedah today.

Saifuddin (above) was responding to lawyers representing Zayn’s parents who yesterday said they have not ruled out requesting extra police protection for their clients who are out on bail.

This comes after the Edisi Siasat whistleblower account leaked a purported police investigation diary in the case against Zayn’s parents - Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf - less than 24 hours after the couple claimed trial in the Sessions Court to negligence which potentially caused physical injury to their child.

Lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin appeared for Zaim while Mahmud Jumaat acted for Ismanira.

Give police space

Saifuddin reiterated his call for all quarters to give space to the police’s Criminal Investigation Department to complete its investigation professionally and objectively.

“There is a new revelation about what had transpired and some quarters perceived it (the finding) as shocking.

“However, the police are acting professionally in gathering information cautiously based on regulations and discipline.

“The police can’t be acting based on perception and vague information,” he was quoted as saying.

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan today said the police received two reports about the alleged leaks, one from Zayn’s family members and the other from the investigating officer handling the case.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has also requested social media platforms to take down posts on the alleged leaked information, saying it may interfere with the trial of the case.

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