This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 31, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan has strongly condemned the acid attack on a senior staff earlier this month.

A visibly upset Tajuddin said any attack on Bursa staff is an attack on the exchange itself.

“An attack on the individual is an attack on the exchange. We strongly condemn such a despicable act of violence. This attack, for whatever reasons, remains a violent, criminal act and it is our hope that the perpetrators are duly brought to justice,” he said.

“To me, there is no particular reason why it should have had to come to this. We are dealing with this, and I am dealing with the motivation of my staff. Clearly the safety and welfare of our staff are most important,” Tajuddin told reporters.

“We will continue to be vigilant in our jobs to make sure the exchange remains one of the best in the region with the help of our staff.”

On July 10 evening, two men on a Yamaha motorcycle broke the driver’s window of the Bursa official’s car in Jalan Raja Chulan here, and splashed acid into the vehicle causing severe burns on his face, back and limbs. Media reports quoting police sources said the attack could be linked to the official’s corporate surveillance work at Bursa. It is said the victim requires intensive medical treatment.