Prime Minister Najib Razak said today fingers should not be pointed at Umno for the attacks on three churches in Kuala Lumpur.

He refuted a claim by a journalist that Umno members were the ones responsible for starting the flames after the High Court had ruled that the word ‘Allah’ can be used by Catholic weekly The Herald.

najib tun razak"Don't point the finger at Umno or anybody. We have always been very responsible.

"Don't say that these attacks were motivated by Umno. That is a very scurrilous statement that you have just made. You are alluding to it. Please stop that," Najib told the journalist.

The prime minister condemned those behind irresponsible acts of church arson and ordered police to step up checks on all places of worship.

Najib said he viewed the attacks very seriously, especially the attempt to burn down a church in Desa Melawati early this morning.

In the attack, the three-storey Metro Tabernacle church had its ground floor completely razed.

The other two churches attacked in the last 12 hours are the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel, both in Petaling Jaya.

NONENajib said such action can destroy the existing harmony of the country.

"I condemn such action by the irresponsible people because it can harm the cordial relationship and harmony that has been in existence.

"As a multi-racial community we must practice respect for one another... it cannot come under threat from anybody," he told reporters.

Najib added that the government would take whatever action needed to curb such incidents.

Beef up security

He urged inspector-general of police Musa Hassan to beef up security at all places of worship following today's attack on three churches in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib said whatever problem or issue in the country must be resolved through the proper procedures or through the law.

"There should be no overzealous action that can harm the harmony of the country," he said.

NONEAsked of the protest rallies after the Friday prayers, Najib said he had already informed the police to monitor the situation.

"That's why they must nip it in the bud, hope with this statement and action by the police, people will not take the law into their hands," Najib said.

Najib added that he would receive information on such incidents from Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the police chief.
 
"When he gets the evidence, he will report to me," Najib said.

The prime minister vowed that the culprits would be arrested.

"An investigation into this matter has already been launched, and those responsible will be brought to justice," he added.

Malaysians, he said, were shocked by the actions.

“This divisive event, and others like it, do not represent Malaysia or Islam. They don't represent our families, our communities, or the effort we have all made towards strengthening 1Malaysia," he said on his 1Malaysia website this evening.