In a statement, Maria also called on the police to act immediately on the death threats against Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid to discourage such “cowardice and violent” behaviour from becoming a norm.
She said it was time to consider an Anti-Stalking Act, as what happened to Syerleena involved repeated, non-consensual, written communication with implied threats, or a combination thereof, that are meant to intimidate.
“Free speech does not extend to death threats as this is a serious crime that is meant to intimidate its victim and silence their voices.
“I myself have received a number of death threats throughout my career, including a few that were also sent to members of my own family. The police need to start taking these threats seriously.”
Maria said if the police didn’t quickly arrest those responsible for the death threats, there was nothing to prevent such acts from continuing.
She said in Syerleena’s case, a single death threat had “inspired” others to do the same.
“As we advance in building democracy in Malaysia, we must never allow this dangerous behaviour to flourish in our society.”
On Saturday, Syerleena lodged a police report over a Facebook poster which labelled her a traitor to Islam and as such, causing her death would not be a sin.
This came after a death threat was found in her service centre mailbox on July 10.