Clear Arson Yet No Case Ngeh Presses Govt On Dropped Probe

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PARLIAMENT | DAP MP Ngeh Koo Ham (Harapan-Beruas) has sought the government’s explanation as to why authorities discontinued probes into the alleged arson attack at his home in January last year.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, the backbencher said he was informed that police investigations into his case were completed six days after the incident on Jan 10, 2024, after which the police had referred its investigation findings to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Citing reports he had received last year from senior investigation officers involved in the case, Ngeh asserted that after reviewing the investigation papers, the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) had determined there were “no witnesses to support the statement or allegation”.
The DPP is also said to have concluded that since no criminal offences had taken place and there was no “solid evidence” to prove a case against any accused, the case “will not be continued”.
The DPP’s stance, Ngeh said, was conveyed to the police in response to a separate report filed by a police officer on the same incident at his residence in Taman Semarak Jaya, Ayer Tawar.
“The application to withdraw the police’s report (on the incident) was also approved - why was a police report withdrawn by the police?” Ngeh questioned during his debate on the Supply Bill 2026 at the committee stage.
“(To say that) no criminal offence had occurred - I am amazed. It is clear that an act of arson took place… I feel this is not quite right. I hope to receive an explanation from the Home Ministry on whether this is the normal SOP (standard operating procedure).”
Up in flames
In the early morning incident on Jan 10, the roof of Ngeh’s home, a Mercedes-Benz E300, a Honda CR-V, and a Toyota Hilux suffered damage.
Ngeh and his wife, who were sleeping on the upper floor of the house, managed to escape the flames after being alerted by the repeated ringing of their doorbell by a neighbour.
Police later confirmed the discovery of a Molotov cocktail bottle at the scene, with initial findings showing that petrol was the cause of the arson at the parliamentarian’s residence.
The case was initially classified under Section 435 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
On Jan 16, then-Perak police chief Yusri Hassan Basri reportedly said an individual suspected of hurling the Molotov cocktail at Ngeh’s home will be charged at the Seri Manjung Magistrate’s Court the following day.
The suspect was previously arrested at his home in Shah Alam, Selangor, with police investigations uncovering that the man was not a member of any political party, nor was he closely associated with Ngeh.
However, to date, no charges have been pressed against any individual allegedly involved in the case. - Mkini

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