KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 ― Opposition leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi indirectly accused the minister in charge of national unity of abusing his position to undermine racial harmony in the country.

Without mentioning his name, Zahid, who was the former Home Affairs minister, said the minister should not be a hero towards a specific religion and shift the blame of the scuffle towards the police.

He was referring to the riots at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya over the last two days.

Minister in Prime Minister’s department in charge of national unity and social well-being P. Waytha Moorthy had along with four others yesterday criticised the police by alleging they were late by almost two hours in responding to the incident.

They had also slammed the Subang Jaya police for issuing a false statement that claimed the tussle was between "two Indian groups” over a misunderstanding related to the temple relocation.

"There should not be anyone who feels compelled to be a hero towards a specific religion, moreover if the person holds a portfolio that upholds national unity.

"The position should not be held as a platform to encourage provocation towards any religion,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby, here, today.

Ahmad Zahid also said it was unnecessary for some groups to blame the police for alleged inaction over the incident, which has been ongoing over the past two days.

"Religious sensitivity cannot be placed on certain religious group only, what more to place the responsibility of the mistake of enforcement on the police,” he said.

Yesterday, Waytha Moorthy had claimed that police only arrived on the scene several hours after the violence broke ― the first a single police patrol car from Subang Jaya at 4.15am and the anti-riot squad at 6am.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Fuzi Harun refuted the allegations and said that police were at the scene within 10 minutes after receiving a call from the public at 2.40am.