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Friday, 29 January 2010

Action on church arsonists, even if from Umno

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today promised the government would prosecute the culprits behind the recent firebombing of a church here, even if they were Umno members.

“In fact I am urging the police to take action against the culprits, no matter who they are.”

PKR’s Azmin Ali claimed yesterday he had evidence to prove that some of those responsible for the attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church were Umno members.

Hishammuddin (picture) however dismissed suggestions that Umno was behind the attacks.

“If it’s true that Umno has a hand in this, why would I push for these crimes to be punished? When even the son of a policeman was arrested?” he asked.

He said that the government was committed in finding all the perpetrators of the attacks against places of worship.

“The people want firm action to be taken and our conduct after the church attacks show our

seriousness in combating this issue,” he said.

Yesterday, the minister had said the attacks against churches, a temple and now mosques appeared to be aimed at sparking racial and religious strife.

Pig heads were reported to be found at two mosques near here yesterday morning, just days after the fire-bombing attacks and acts of vandalism against churches and a Sikh temple had taken place in the wake of the “Allah” controversy.

The two mosques are the Masjid Jumhuriyah in Taman Dato Harun and the Al- Imam Tirmizi mosque at Taman Sri Sentosa.

These latest acts could be construed as attempts to escalate tensions and provoke unrest between Muslims and non-Muslims as pigs are considered unhygienic in Islam and therefore their presence in the mosques is an act of desecration.

So far, eight men have been arrested in connection with the firebombing of the Metro Tabernacle Church here. Seven others were picked up for an attack on a church and a school in Taiping.

Four men were also picked up for an arson attempt on two mosques in Muar.

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