Another century-old Hindu temple in Penang has been broken into, and its deities destroyed, this time “more severely” than last week's attack on a nearby temple.Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said the Sri Dharma Munisverar temple, which is located about one kilometre away from the Muthumariamman Temple in Penanti Estate, was vandalised around midnight.
“The previous incident in Penanti happened exactly one week ago, on Thursday. Today, we found that the deities were destroyed more severely than the previous ones,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini.
He said the intruders entered the temple and appeared to have thrown a large stone at the three deities, smashing them into pieces.
The committee that oversees both temples was shocked by the incidents and unable to accept the desecration of their places of worship.
Ramasamy spoke to Penang chief police Abdul Ghafar Rejab, who reportedly said the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
“However, police are still uncertain whether the damage was caused by an insider or outsider. The police must be more alert from now on and must send their patrols to monitor the affected areas,” he said.
“With two related temples, looked after by the same committee being vandalised over a matter of one week, it looks as if the culprits are trying to send a strong message,” the Perai assemblyperson added.
“Is it the work of extremists or is this revenge?”
Only last week, several deities in the Muthumariamman Temple in Penanti Estate in Arakuda were destroyed by unknown attackers who are believed to have used a wooden pole to break the statues.
This followed a similar incident in Ipoh last month, with Ramasamy speculating that it may be due to the country's "heated political situation".
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