GEORGE TOWN, Jan 28 — The same group is likely to be responsible for the arson attack on a local church and for planting controversial banners at several churches in the state, Penang State Religious Affairs state executive councillor Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said today.
He said that he believed the churches were targeted by a certain group to undermine religious harmony in Penang but did not identify any potential suspects.
“I believe these are people who want to continue to see such incidents happening in Penang, to create havoc, to their own benefit,” he said in a press conference at his office today.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, two firebombs were thrown into the compound of The Church of the Assumption on Lebuh Farquhar. Only one exploded.
The attack came a day after controversial banners with the word “Allah” were put up outside five churches in the state.
The church said they were not responsible for the banners.
Abdul Malik, the state assemblyman for Batu Maung, called on Penangites to disregard the provocative acts and to let it die down.
“These acts of putting up controversial banners and attacking the church do not reflect the teachings of any religion but are aimed at creating tension and hatred. So we should all reject and condemn such acts,” he said.
He called on Penangites to stand up against such acts and called for all parties across the political divide to set aside differences to resolve the issue.
