Paint attack on surau: 'Form a police task force'

By Zefry Dahalan - Free Malaysia Today,

SEREMBAN: Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) wants police to act fast after a surau near here was splashed with paint yesterday.
Its chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin said a special task force should be set up to probe into the incident similar to the special team formed in Penang to investigate the Friday sermon issue.

(In Penang, the chief minister's name was allegedly used, instead of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's, in the “doa” during the Friday sermon at certain mosques in the state.)

“We hope a similar team will be formed to investigate the surau case, which is more sensitive and dangerous,” Badrul Hisham said.

In yesterday's incident, the surau at Taman Pulai Impian, Sikamat, near here, was splashed with red paint by unknown assailants. Broken bottles were also found in a nearby drain.

The police have taken samples of the paint.

Badrul Hisham, who is also known as Chegu Bard, said SAMM condemned the attack, saying the act smacked of a possible motive to instigate racial unrest.

"SAMM never accuses anyone but if racial and religious sentiments are stirred up, the parties that will benefit will be the racist-oriented ones.

"The motive could be to instigate racial and religous sentiments. Early this year a church in Seremban was also vandalised,”he said.

Badrul Hisham, who is also Rembau PKR chief, said SAMM will meet the surau committee today to help repair the surau.

"SAMM plans to bring activists of different races and religions to do a 'gotong royong' to repair the damage.

“I urge the residents and people outside the housing estate to be calm and show a sense of maturity by not over-reacting", Badrul Hisham said.