‘Do not make own conclusions regarding attacks’

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KUALA LUMPUR: Several political leaders have called on the people not to make their own conclusions on who was responsible for the firebombing of three churches in the Klang Valley on Friday.

They asked all quarters to leave the matter to the police to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.

Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir echoed this and called on the people to heed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin’s call for people to respect places of worship in the country.

“His Majesty’s call fulfils the needs of the people and I think we should respect places of worship including the status of Islam as the official religion of the country,” he told reporters after officiating the Malay Entrepreneur Development Festival in Muar.

MIC deputy president Datuk G Palanivel said the current situation where three churches were subjected to damage should be handled very carefully and all quarters should remain calm and not turn it into a crisis.

“We should not prejudge. Remaining calm and showing the right direction is the hallmark of leadership. I am glad at the manner in which top leaders had reacted by calling for calmness and harmony.

“All matters can be resolved if there is calmness and harmony and proper handling of the issue. The issue should not be fanned further.

“Even the media has a responsible role to play in this matter,” he told Bernama.

In Miri, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said the people should not do anything rash and should leave the matter to the authorities to resolve.

“I regret that each time such issues (of religion and race) arise we see there is a small group that acts extremely,” he said.

In Shah Alam, PAS spritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said burning of churches happens when there is no religious sensitivity among a small section of society.

Nik Aziz, who is Kelantan Menteri Besar, said those who burned churches did so as there was no sanctity of religion in them and they did not take into account the question of sinning.

“People have to think that churches are the property of our Christian friends,” he said. — Bernama