PJ Utara MP Tony Pua received a live bullet in the post yesterday afternoon. The letter, bearing a Johor postmark and mailed to his office in Damansara Utama, was opened by his office assistant about 4.30pm.

Speaking at a press conference at his office today, Pua said  he accompanied his assistant and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng to the Damansara Utama police station at 6.30pm yesterday to lodge a report.

Police have confirmed the bullet is local-made for an M16 rifle.

NONE A typewritten letter, in block letters sent together with the bullet, read:

"Tony Pua Kiam Wee

Lu Banyak Berani?

Sekarang Lu Mau Apa?

Jalan Sekarang Mau Tengok Depan Belakang Kiri Kanan, Bawah dan Atas,

Apa Pasal?                           Lu Punya Keluarga, Rumah, Pejabat, Kereta, -WHT .....004 Wa Sudah Tau.

Sendiri Mau Ingat.                Lu Fikirlah Sendiri"

(Tony Pua Kiam Wee, You think you’re so brave? What do you want now? You’ll now need to watch your back, look left and right, up and down wherever you go. Why? Because your family, your home, office, car – WHT…004… I already know. Be wise, think for yourself’)

The postmark on the envelope showed that it was mailed from Tangkak, Johor.

Pua said he believes this to be a deliberate threat against him and his family, following a speech he made at a dialogue session on July 26.

At the Selangor Budget 2011 dialogue, he had suggested that the state government does away with discounts for bumiputera buying  luxury properties as this went against the spirit of affirmative action.

“The issue was later played up by Utusan Malaysia and Umno,” Pua told NONE the press conference, which was also attended by Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS) and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR).

“My suggestion should have been debated in an open manner. There is no justification for such threats,” said the father of two.

Constructive politics

He added that his suggestion was that discount be used to aid the needy instead, not the well-off, and was for the consideration of the state government.

Dzulkefly, who agrees with Pua’s suggestion, added that the threat was part of intimidation tactics against Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers who supported “constructive politics”.

He said a seven percent discount for a commercial building worth RM2 million worked  out to RM140,000, which could be used to aid the poor.

“It is very embarrassing (that some people have) twisted the message, when in fact we (in Pakatan Rakyat) are trying our best to eradicate poverty,” Dzulkefly said.

Pua’s suggestion had prompted police reports against him by Selangor Umno Youth, which accused the DAP publicity chief of making a dangerous and seditious suggestion that went against the Federal Constitution and the “social contract”.

Pua is the second DAP leader to have received such a death threat. In May 2008, DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh received a similar letter , which also came with a live bullet.