MALAYSIAN GOVT TAKES SERIOUS VIEW ON ARSONS AT PLACES OF WORSHIP

KUALA KLAWANG (Malaysia), Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government takes a serious view on attempts by irresponsible groups to burn or damage places of worship in the country and stern action must be taken against them to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said
such incidents could not be left unchecked as they could lead to anarchy.

"If the mini-mosques (surau), mosques or even churches and temples are
destroyed continuously due to the treacherous acts of a small group of
irresponsible people, they will indirectly affect the credibility of the
country's legal system," he told reporters here, Thursday.


He was asked to comment on the incidents where two surau in Muar, Johor were
slightly burnt after arson attempts were made on them in the early hours of
today. The first incident occurred at about 2.30am at the Surau Silaturahim,
Jalan Ismail Omar, while the second incident was at Surau Parit Beting in Jalan
Salleh.

-- BERNAMA