According to Rafizi, his wife received a text message from an unknown number at 1.12am, reading: “Be quiet. If you continue, AIDS.”

At 11.02am, she received the same text message again followed by three syringe emojis.

Rafizi said he suspected that the attack was linked to a case he was looking into, saying he had met with a group of whistleblowers just last week.

“Last week, I met with a group of whistleblowers regarding a scandal. In my opinion, this is an attempt to silence me and they want me to drop the case.

“I have given this information to the police and they are already aware of the phone number,” he said at a press conference in Parliament today.

The attack on Rafizi’s 12-year-old son occurred at a shopping mall in Putrajaya at around 2pm yesterday.

The Pandan MP said CCTV footage showed that two men, dressed in black with their faces fully covered by helmets, had followed his wife’s car on a motorcycle before the incident.

His son, who was dragged and stabbed with a syringe, was rushed to the hospital for treatment and checks.

The assailants meanwhile escaped.

Rafizi said he believed the attack was planned in advance, and that his wife was likely surveilled by the assailants for a few days before the attack was carried out.

“I just moved house, so not many people know where I live. Clearly, my wife’s movements have been tracked,” he said.

He added however that his family was doing well and that his wife “doesn’t want to change course”.

The former economy minister again vowed that he would not be silenced but would continue digging into the alleged scandal, details of which he did not disclose.

He added that the necessary security arrangements would be made to ensure his family’s safety.