Tourism Minister Receives Fake Time Bomb Addressed To His Office
The 'bomb' was delivered to the 14th floor of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) building.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 06 Jun 2024, 12:27 PM
A parcel resembling a bomb was addressed to Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing's office in Putrajaya yesterday, 5 May.
However, the police later confirmed that the contents were a fake bomb.
According to the New Straits Times, staff members and visitors in the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) building in Presint 5, Putrajaya, were evacuated at 4.30pm yesterday after receiving the suspicious package.
Based on preliminary investigations, Putrajaya district police chief ACP A Asmadi Abdul Aziz said the contents in the parcel contained a timer, wires, and PVC pipes, resembling a bomb.
The police received a distress call from Tiong at 3.21pm.
"Based on the CCTV footage, [the parcel] was sent by a man using the J&T express courier service with a Sungai Buloh address at 11.19am.
"[The delivery man] then shook the parcel, before delivering it to the ministry's lobby at 2.45pm and then to the 14th floor, which an officer received," said A Asmadi.
Bernama reported that the parcel was opened on the 14th floor, where the minister's temporary office is located.
The Bomb Disposal Unit (UPB) and two bomb-sniffing dogs were deployed to the scene to investigate the bomb threat
It is understood that UPB used their tools to confirm that the bomb was fake.
"Ultimately, we found that it resembled a bomb, but the contents were negative. It was a hoax," explained the Putrajaya district police chief.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 8 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 506 of the Penal Code.
The first provision deals with penalties for making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances, while the second provision addresses criminal intimidation.
Tiong is the latest lawmaker to receive threats, following an incident involving Seputeh member of parliament (MP) Teresa Kok last month.
In March, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming received an anonymous threat warning him against challenging Islam. In January, three cars belonging to Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham were set on fire by a passer-by at his home in Ayer Tawar, Perak.
