THE police should investigate an alleged arson attack on Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham’s house in Perak as an attempted murder case as it was committed in the early hours, Bukit Gelugor lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh said.

In a statement, the former deputy law and institutional reform minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the intention to cause death could not be ruled out as the incident took place at a time when the occupants were at home.

“With respect, it is obvious that the matter should be investigated from all angles given the circumstances, including for attempted murder under section 307 of the penal code since the perpetrator(s) chose to commit the offence at a time when the victims were asleep and helpless. As such, the intention to cause death cannot be ruled out.

“Furthermore, the investigations into this matter must also include the causes behind this tragic incident, including whether the perpetrator(s) were induced and/or incited to commit the offence as a result of statements made by irresponsible parties in which case, those parties can be prosecuted under section 505 of the penal code,” Ramkarpal said in the statement.

Section 307 of the penal code provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine if convicted, while section 505 of the same code provides for a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

Yesterday police said it had detained a man to assist in the probe into an arson case at Ngeh’s residence in Taman Semarak Jaya, Ayer Tawar, early Wednesday morning.

Perak police chief Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the 30-year-old suspect was arrested in Shah Alam, Selangor, at 4am.

“The police also seized two mobile phones,” he said in a statement in Ipoh today.

He said the man did not belong to any political party and police had yet to obtain the results of the urine sample taken from him. 

He also said checks found that the suspect had no previous criminal record and he was remanded for five days, until Tuesday, for further investigation.

Yusri added that the case was being investigated under section 435 of the penal code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years and a fine upon conviction.

Members of the public with information may contact investigating officer Mohd Azalan Ab Karim, at 019-392 7837 to assist in the investigation.

On Thursday, the police reportedly recorded statements from seven individuals in connection with the case.

In the incident on Wednesday, three cars parked on the porch of Ngeh’s home in Ayer Tawar were damaged when a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the compound. – January 13, 2024.