"Oh yes, it is a must. This is because we have the information and we have to follow it up," Deputy Head of the National Police`s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) Insp. Gen Mathius Salempang said here on Monday.
Police now wanted to have the original short text message (SMS) that was sent from a number in Singapore, he said.
As reported by a number of online media, the text message which was also received by ANTARA News Agency had been sent from a phone in Singapore with the number +65843939xxx. The SMS contained a threat allegedly signed by Nazaruddin who since his discharge as Democrat Party treasurer had gone to Singapore.
At 1.0 pm on Saturday, the text message began circulating and several hours later, an online media published it.
According to one online media, Nazaruddin has denied that he had sent the threatening SMS.
"We have to cooperate. We cannot investigate it in another country. You cannot come to Singapore to investigate it alone. We have to be proactive to find its source," he said.
In the meantime, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said certain text messages that were circulating containing accusations to him were nothing but slander.
Before departing for Pontianak, West Kalimantan, for a working visit at Halim Perdanakusuma airport here on Monday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said information in the text message was "not clearly sourced, contained outrageous slander"
President Yudhoyono said a lot of people had already become victims of slander in the country including he himself.
"While carrying out the mandate given through a legitimate and democratic election so far, I think, hundreds of pieces of slander have already been addressed to me. So far I have chosen to remain quiet. But when it has become too much, one or twice for the sake of my reputation and my right, I feel, I have to give an explanation," he said.
Text messages have spread in the past few days from a cellular phone number abroad accusing President Yudhoyono of having committed inappropriate actions.
The message appeared following the departure of M Nazaruddin, the former treasurer of the ruling Democrat Party to Singapore just a day before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) applied for his travel ban in connection with his alleged involvement in a corruption case and before the party`s ethics council fired him from his post as a party treasurer.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
