HOME MINISTRY VEHEMENTLY DENIES NOT BEING SERIOUS ON CHURCH ATTACKS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Monday
vehemently denied charges that the government was not firm and was impassive in
handling attacks on churches in the country.

He said instead the government had taken the best and most proactive
measures since the first case was reported.

"Over the four days, the authorities have succeeded in stabilising the
situation through efficient monitoring and involvement in a short
time...everything is under control and no more churches have been burnt.

"I have personally gone to ground with police teams to churches and I am
satisfied with the security measures taken by the police," he told reporters
here Monday.

He said although the Gereja Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) church in Lakeview
Square, in southern state of Seremban, was alleged to have been torched Monday
morning, the church was not actually damaged as portrayed.

"This is just a small case and only the front door was damaged by splashed
petrol. This makes eight the number of cases reported in the country. However
most cases are not as bad as assumed, except the one in Desa Melawati where the
whole ground floor of the premise was gutted," he said.

Hishammuddin said in other countries an emergency or a curfew would have
been declared but the situation here had not reached that level as early
preventive measures had been taken to prevent more incidents.

As such, he said, it was not fair to say that the situation in the country
was out of control as the government was always ready to ensure the peace and
security of the people and nation.

"We must place emphasis on three main factors which were the government's
stand, the committment of the authorities; and the people's maturity in dealing
with the issue," he said.

Hishammuddin said the Home Ministry had met with representatives of foreign
missions Monday in Putrajaya to clarify developments and the actual situation in
the country.

"In the meeting we told them of the current situation and they were given
opportunity to ask anything so that there would not be a negative perspective of
Malaysia by other countries.

"This is important to ensure there were no quarters, especially abroad, that
took the opportunity to issue various offensive statements intended to worsen
the situation to the point of tarnishing our image at the international level,"
he said.

Hishamuddin also said the government had no intention to conceal anything
related to the attack on another church, the Metro Tabernacle Church.

"We have clues and information to identify the perpetrators but I cannot
reveal anything as that would interfere with investigations.

He called on everyone to inform the police of any worrying situations so
that preventive action could be taken.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ismail Omar, reminded people
not to entertain SMS messages that called on people to display their feelings by
gathering on Jan 13 at the Petaling Jaya Assumption Church.
--BERNAMA


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