Depok Firefighter Khairul Umam Targeted with Threats Following Content About Helmets

A member of the Depok city fire department, Khairul Umam, has become the target of threats after creating a video discussing the use of helmets.

The video content was uploaded by Umam to his Instagram account @xkhairulumam. In the video, Umam states that the function of a helmet is to protect the head, not to destroy it.

“I’m just letting you know, this is called a helmet, its function is to protect the head, not to destroy people’s heads,” Umam said in the video.

Umam, who also works as a comedian, said that he created the video solely to educate about the function of personal protective equipment (PPE), in this case, helmets.

“The point is that the function of a helmet is to protect the head. That’s all,” he said when contacted on Thursday (February 26).

Umam admitted that he did not expect the content to go viral. He also emphasized that he did not intend to offend anyone with the content.

“In the end, if it comes to being offended, I can’t comment on that. And as far as I know, my friends in the fire department also wear helmets. And yes, it’s not possible that my actions would go beyond my institution. That’s what I was thinking,” said Umam.

However, a day or two after the content was uploaded, Umam began receiving threats sent via the WhatsApp application. Umam also uploaded the threatening messages he received to his Instagram account.

In one of the threatening messages, he was given his home address and asked to protect his head.

In another message sent from an account named ‘Raja Kopi’, Umam was asked to continue wearing a helmet to protect his head.

Umam said that he initially responded to the messages from the unknown number in a good manner, as he thought the messages were sent by someone he knew.

“I responded well, until he started saying things like ‘good luck’ and ‘be safe’, so I responded with good wishes as well,” he said.

“But he replied in that way, and I ignored him. When I started receiving more threatening messages, I deleted the chat. Then he sent another WhatsApp message saying ‘wait, I have a surprise for you’,” he continued.

Umam said that he was quite worried about the threatening messages he received. However, he also said that he did not want to take it too seriously.

“Personally, I can’t do anything about it. Of course, I’m a little worried. But I feel that, really, why would someone go to such lengths to bother me?” he said.

Umam said that he has not received any more threatening messages via WhatsApp. He also said that he does not plan to report the threats to the police at this time.

Umam said that he will only take legal action if the threats become more serious and endanger him or his family.

“For now, there are no plans to report it. I think it will subside,” he said.