KUALA LUMPUR: Police have roped in the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to help trace the person behind a foreign phone number who issued death threats against the whistleblower linked to a graft scandal involving state assembly members.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said investigations revealed the victim received a call via WhatsApp call from a foreign phone number.
"MCMC has been notified and we are now working closely in retrieving the information of the foreign phone number's subscriber," he told the New Straits Times on Thursday.
Razarudin said investigators were currently in the process of identifying and recording statements from witnesses.
"At the moment, only the victim has given a statement to the police.
"We are in the process of recording statements from witnesses to facilitate further investigations into this case," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said they had yet to receive any further word on whether the whistleblower planned to come forward to formally lodge a complaint.
"The identity of this individual has yet to be revealed to us. Let the police investigate," he said.
It was reported yesterday that the police have opened a criminal intimidation probe over allegations that the whistleblower had received death threats.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that the man received two pictures: one showing a pistol with ammunition and another of a person shot in the street.
The threat was sent via WhatsApp on Monday when a man contacted the 36-year-old victim at 11.06pm for about 16 seconds.
The victim, who works as a construction contractor, allegedly received the call while he was at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
The caller claimed to be from a group of assassins and threatened to kill him.
Fearing for his life, the victim went to the Sentul police station to lodge a police report.
It was reported that the MACC urged the person with video recordings of state assembly members discussing bribes to file an official complaint with the agency.
Azam was quoted as saying that the agency can offer protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, but the person would have to come forward and follow due procedures.
He said the informant must report the misconduct before law enforcement can start the protection process.
MACC, he added, cannot provide any written guarantee of immunity at this point without first being furnished with detailed information about the improper conduct.
Azam, however, said the law also states that if the individual is found to be involved in the offence, that protection will be revoked.