PUTRAJAYA: Police have confirmed that the bomb threat received by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) earlier today was a hoax.
Putrajaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner A. Asmadi Abdul Aziz said that based on an initial investigation, it was revealed that the ministry received a suspicious parcel that was addressed to its minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He added that the suspicious parcel, which contained a fake bomb, consisted of a timer, wires and a polymerisation of vinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, which made it look like an actual bomb.
He also confirmed that the parcel did not contain any threat letters or other objects.
"We (the police received a report on the suspicious parcel at 3.21pm and I also received a call from the minister (Tiong) on the parcel.
"Based on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, it was sent by a man using the J&T express courier service with a Sungai Buloh address at 11.19am.
"He then shakes the parcel, before delivering it to the ministry's lobby at 2.45pm and then to the 14th floor, which was received by an officer," he told a press conference today.
The case is being investigated under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957.
"We will investigate the case under the Explosives Act, but we will also review (the case under) relevant acts as we are looking at several angles, including threats and other aspects that affect public safety," said A. Asmadi.
At the same time, he said that around 10 officers from Putrajaya police's Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) then went to the scene to verify the threat.
He added that two sniffer dogs were also deployed to the scene to assist the investigation further.
"Following this, the police will investigate from all angles related to security issues and we will not compromise with any parties involved (in delivering the false bomb threat).
"We ask for cooperation from anyone with information to come forward to the Putrajaya police station or any nearest station (to lodge a report) and we hope there will not be any speculation on the matter."
Meanwhile, A. Asmadi said the police had requested the building management to enhance security while tightening authorities' supervision in the building.
"We have also informed the management that any parcel that is addressed to the minister must follow the standard operating procedure (SOP)."
Earlier, Motac was reported to have received a bomb threat on its 14th floor, prompting an evacuation around 4.30pm.
Motac staff and visitors were instructed to leave the premises as a precautionary measure.
Astro Awani's Senior Assistant Vice President, Zaiful Mohd Ariffin, who was present for a meeting at the building, shared details of the incident.