In JB, Safiq Rahim is the latest footballer to be attacked across the country

JOHOR BARU, May 8 – National footballer Safiq Rahim became the latest player to be attacked after the rear window of his car was smashed by unknown assailants last night.

However, the 36-year-old Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) midfielder was not injured in the incident at 10:05 p.m.

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Safiq was driving his Honda City car towards Jalan Skudai near Lido Beach after leaving the club’s training ground in Jalan Seri Gelam when he was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle.

He claimed the attackers also threatened to hit him with a hammer after breaking the rear window of his car.

“I never thought I would be attacked near the JDT training center. In such times we have to be more careful,” the former captain of the national football team said in a post on his Instagram social media account shortly after midnight.

In the post, Safiq said he filed a police report because he was worried about his safety.

In addition to a picture of his damaged car, he also uploaded a police report about the incident, which was lodged at the Johor Baru South District Police Headquarters in Larkin.

The incident comes after another football player, Faisal Halim, suffered an acid attack at a mall in Kota Damansara, Selangor on Sunday.

Previously, another football player, Akhyar Rashid, was robbed and attacked in his Kuala Terengganu neighborhood about a week ago.

Johor Baru South Police Deputy Commissioner Raub Selamat said police are investigating the incident.

He said the investigation was initiated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief and criminal damage.

“The police are looking for the suspects involved. A statement will be issued after the investigation is completed,” he said in a brief statement after midnight.

JDT Football Club (JDT FC) chief executive Alistair Edwards said the club was concerned about the incident involving Safiq Rahim, where his car was attacked near the JDT training center this evening.

He called on the police to urgently investigate the incident.

“The incident, along with the recent attacks on Akhyar Rashid and Faisal Halim, has no place in football,” he said in a statement on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page.

Edwards, a former Australian rules footballer, said JDT FC had also advised its players to be cautious about their surroundings and their social media posts at all times.

“Due to these recent cases, JDT has increased the safety of our players as a precautionary measure,” he added.

The recent incident involving Safiq has put authorities on alert following several similar attacks on football players across the country.