KUCHING: Authorities have been urged to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind the acid attack against a national footballer.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah called upon the authorities to delve into the root causes of these incidents.
“Is it due to issues with bookies, minor disputes among players, or something else? If syndicates are involved, then it is important that this matter is addressed promptly.
“These acts are reprehensible. It is appalling that individuals would resort to throwing acid and assaulting athletes, particularly when they are representing Malaysia.
“To me, this is something very new in the sports world, and it is regrettable that athletes have been injured as a result of these attacks,” he said when met by the media after attending the Affin Group Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri at Riverside Majestic Hotel on Wednesday (May 8).
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, expressed concern that the footballer targeted in the acid attack was being singled out.
“He was one of the goal scorers in the Malaysia vs South Korea football match, which ended in a draw.
“I refrain from speculating further. It is possible that certain parties were dissatisfied with the outcome of the match. Financial losses may have motivated them to take such actions,” he said.
On May 5, star player Faisal Halim was splashed with concentrated sulfuric acid in front of a shopping mall outside Kuala Lumpur.
The 26-year-old suffered fourth-degree burns on the neck, shoulder, hands and chest.
Nicknamed ‘Mickey’, Faisal plays on the right wing for Selangor FC and Malaysia.
Officials say that he is in “critical but stable condition”. He is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is being closely monitored by specialists.
Photos of Faisal after the attack have circulated widely online. He was seen sitting down, covered with a towel, looking stunned – while surrounded by police officers and medics. Large areas of skin had also peeled off from the side of his arms and torso.
