By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak lashed out today at Pakatan Rakyat for alleging that the arsonists involved in the Metro Tabernacle Church attack were Umno members.
Responding to a question from a reporter during a press conference after the Umno Supreme Council meeting, Najib appeared to be on the defensive as he dismissed the claims as merely another tactic by the opposition to win support.
“This point has already been answered by top Umno officials. This is what the opposition always does,” said Najib to a chorus of applause from Umno leaders present at the press conference.
The prime minister’s remarks comes amid accusations by some PR leaders claiming to have knowledge and evidence of Umno’s “hand” in the recent attack on the church which left its first floor completely gutted.
PKR vice-president Azmin Ali has claimed that at least four Umno members were involved in the arson attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church.
PAS’s HarakahDaily website quoted Azmin as saying that he was collecting evidence to back up his claims and would release it soon.
The Gombak MP had claimed that at least four of the eight remanded over the Jan 8 attack are Umno members from the Gombak and Ampang divisions, adding he would reveal the full names, Mykad numbers and Umno membership numbers of those involved as soon as possible.
“The opposition has to always blame Umno. This is their modus operandi (MO),” said Najib today in response to the claims.
Three dispatch riders were charged in the Sessions Court today for the recent firebombing of the Metro Tabernacle Church, and could face up to 20 years in prison.
The three were brothers Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim, 24; Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, 22; and another 23-year-old, Azuwan Shah Ahmad.
They were charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code, for the offence of “mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a building.”
All three claimed trial and the date of mention has been set for March 12.
A total of eight men had originally been detained in connection with the arson attack at the Metro Tabernacle Church here on Jan 8.
Besides the eight, police have also detained seven other men over the recent arson attempt at Taiping’s historic All Saints’ Church and the town’s Convent School.
The attacks are believed to be linked to the controversial “Allah” ruling that has riled many Muslims.
Four other men were also picked up for arson attempts on two mosques in Muar.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this week he believed the attacks against churches, a temple and now mosques appeared to be aimed at sparking racial and religious strife.
Boar heads were reportedly found at two mosques near here, earlier this week, following the fire-bombing attacks and acts of vandalism against churches and a Sikh temple that had taken place in the wake of the “Allah” controversy.
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 were acts of desecration.
No comments:
Post a Comment