Vandalised surau: Four teens nabbed
Four people have been arrested by the police over the vandalism of a surau in Taman Pulai Impian in Temiang, Negri Sembilan.
Four teenagers have been arrested by the police over the vandalism of a newly-opened surau in Taman Pulai Impian in Temiang, Negri Sembilan.
At a press conference today, state police chief Osman Salleh said the four, aged between 16 and 18, were arrested early this morning.
According to Osman, initial investigations revealed that the four had been playing with firecrackers near the surau on Sunday and had been told off.
Dissatisfied, the youth decided to splash paint at the prayer hall.
"This is purely a case of mischief. It has nothing to do with religion or politics," said Osman, who urged the public not to react emotionally over the issue.
He added that they would be remanded for four days before a decision was made as to whether there was enough evidence to charge them with defiling a place of worship.
It was reported yesterday that committee members of the new surau came upon the red paint splashed onto the walls of the prayer hall when they arrived for the dawn prayers shortly before 6am that morning.
Several broken liquor bottles - believed to have been used to contain the paint - were found within the vicinity.
Osman said the four teenagers lived in the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported surau committee chairperson Mohd Hasbi Ismail as having praised the police for the arrests.
"I am thankful for the police for solving this quickly," he said.
A check at the surau showed that the red paint had been removed and the affected walls repainted.
A perimeter fence was also being installed around the surau.
'Impulsive act'
Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee Leong told reporters during a visit to the surau today that the was taking the matter “very seriously.”
“An incident like this should not have taken place. We will not hesitate to take stern action against any individual or group that threatens the peace of our country.”
However, he said, as the incident is believed to have been “an impulsive act” by youngsters, he hoped that no one would take the opportunity to stir up racial sentiments.
“Investigations are ongoing. I hope the issue is not played up,” he said.
Earlier this year, 11 churches and two Muslim prayer halls were pelted with Molotov cocktails, stones and paint as a row raged over non-Muslims using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God'.
