ARSON ATTACKS ARE ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE 1MALAYSIA - MINISTER

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Home Minister
Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Friday the arson attacks on churches and surau in
the country could be attempts to undermine the 1Malaysia vision.

Hishammuddin was confident however that the vision mooted by Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak was intact and not affected by these attempts.

He said he believed the people understood that the true meaning of the
1Malaysia vision was to nurture unity among people of various races and
religions.

"The 1Malaysia vision is in line with the needs of the people," he told
reporters here.



On the arson attacks on two surau in Muar, Johor (southern state in
Peninsular Malaysia), on Jan 21, Hishammuddin said he regretted the incidents
and said that he believed Muslims as well as non-Muslims were disappointed with
the incidents.

"I'm disappointed and I feel that majority of Malaysians are also
disappointed with it. When churches are attacked, Muslims too are angered by it
and when surau in Muar are attacked, the non-Muslim are also disappointed."

He said that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Deputy IGP as well as
the Johor police chief had been ordered to investigate the surau-burning
incidents.

He said that although the losses to the surau were small, only about RM500
each (some US$147), the government viewed seriously attempts to create tension
in the country.

He urged the people to remain calm and to leave the matter to the police to
hunt down the culprits.

-- BERNAMA