Penang BN leaders condemn church attacks
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 28, 2014 7:49 AM | Updated: Jan 28, 2014 7:53 AM
BN leaders have joined others in Penang to express their condemnation of the recent attacks on churches in the northern state.
They want Penang police to move swiftly to find those responsible.
BN leaders have joined others in Penang to express their condemnation of the recent attacks on churches in the northern state.
Penang Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow said these were "cowardice acts by irresponsible elements".
"They (the culprits) do not deserve to be called Malaysians. Malaysians love peace and harmony," he said, speaking from Singapore.
Teng urged the police to act fast to bring the culprits to book.
He added that political parties should act immediately to call on their members to refrain from making inflammatory statements.
At 1.30am yesterday, two Molotov cocktails were hurled into the compound of the 229-year-old Assumption Church along Farquhar Street by unknown individuals.
Yesterday, five banners with words “Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Allah” were found at the premises of five churches, including the Assumption Church.
The other four churches are the Immaculate Conception Church in Pulau Tikus, St John Britto in Sungai Pinang, the Victory Lutheran Church in Island Glades and Church of the Nativity in Butterworth.
Teng's colleague, Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh also condemned the attacks, saying that believers at places of worship put their hands together to pray for goodwill.
"They do not use their hands to desecrate these places. Those who did it are a shame to their own religion," he added.
Bone of contention
Penang Umno liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman said he was confident the police would act fast to nail the culprits.
"We hope the police will quickly act to prevent these incidents from repeating itself," the Penang-Federal Action Council chairperson said.
Zainal expressed the view that the bone of contention between some Muslim groups and the Catholic Church can be resolved through discussion.
He further appealed for calm, cautioning all parties not to fall into the trap set by those who want to create chaos to disrupt racial and religious harmony.
Meanwhile, state PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin said the wing's members will monitor the situation and will help to spread anti-racist messages.
"With this, we hope the federal government will accept the offer by opposition leader and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim to begin discussions on national consensus in the country.
Penang Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow said these were "cowardice acts by irresponsible elements".
"They (the culprits) do not deserve to be called Malaysians. Malaysians love peace and harmony," he said, speaking from Singapore.
Teng urged the police to act fast to bring the culprits to book.
He added that political parties should act immediately to call on their members to refrain from making inflammatory statements.
At 1.30am yesterday, two Molotov cocktails were hurled into the compound of the 229-year-old Assumption Church along Farquhar Street by unknown individuals.
Yesterday, five banners with words “Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Allah” were found at the premises of five churches, including the Assumption Church.
The other four churches are the Immaculate Conception Church in Pulau Tikus, St John Britto in Sungai Pinang, the Victory Lutheran Church in Island Glades and Church of the Nativity in Butterworth.
Teng's colleague, Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh also condemned the attacks, saying that believers at places of worship put their hands together to pray for goodwill.
"They do not use their hands to desecrate these places. Those who did it are a shame to their own religion," he added.
Bone of contention
Penang Umno liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman said he was confident the police would act fast to nail the culprits.
"We hope the police will quickly act to prevent these incidents from repeating itself," the Penang-Federal Action Council chairperson said.
Zainal expressed the view that the bone of contention between some Muslim groups and the Catholic Church can be resolved through discussion.
He further appealed for calm, cautioning all parties not to fall into the trap set by those who want to create chaos to disrupt racial and religious harmony.
Meanwhile, state PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin said the wing's members will monitor the situation and will help to spread anti-racist messages.
"With this, we hope the federal government will accept the offer by opposition leader and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim to begin discussions on national consensus in the country.
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