ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin … ‘we did not want to spark more anger’. – Picture by Choo Choy May
SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 – Shah Alam OCPD ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin today explained that the police had failed to act during the cow-head demonstration at the state secretariat because the situation “did not permit” them to do so.
“We saw the situation was not right because we did not want to spark more anger but we will take actions based on other evidences that we have. We will take action based on evidence and against those who have been identified,” Azam said.
Dozens of riot police stood by and watched as protesters brought the severed cow-head to the Selangor state secretariat and stomped on it.
The act, which is offensive to Hindus who regard the cow as sacred, was carried out by a group of 50 protesters who oppose the relocation of the Sri Mahamariamman Temple to Section 23 to Section 19, claiming the area is mainly occupied by Malay-Muslims.
The 150-year-old temple was built on a plantation which over the years was developed into housing estates by the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS). No provisions were made to relocate the temple, which is now in the middle of a Muslim majority area.
Azam assured that the police will begin investigation immediately based on the reports that they have received and the report that the police made yesterday.
The police will be arresting the protestors under section 27 (5) of the Police Act and Sedition Act.
Azam also advised the public to be patient and not to take drastic actions because the police “will bring justice to those responsible.”
“I regret what happened, the cow-head should not have been used as an issue. We will take action and identify who are involved and responsible for the head,” he said.
Azam also confirmed that the police will increase their presence in section 23.
“We won’t compromise where safety is concerned. I do not want any racial fighting like what was said in the mosque,” he said.
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