MAY 15 — As a former convent girl who completed my secondary education at Convent Keramat, Pulau Pinang, no words can describe my horror and abhorrence on the news that assailant(s) had battered two elderly nuns aged 79 and 69 respectively at the church grounds of the Visitation Church in Seremban.

Such an attack against women, innocent nuns who only serve the community for the greater good, is totally vile and dastardly and resulted in both of them bleeding, in serious condition, injured, severely traumatised, of whom one required an emergency operation for brain injuries and is in ICU.

The tireless contributions of the IJ nuns must be accorded recognition. It is safe to say that more than a hundred thousand Malaysian girls were educated in the hallowed halls and classrooms of IJ convents throughout East and West Malaysia since the beginning of the 20th century. The IJ nuns educated anyone regardless of race and religion, and imbued in all their students the spirit of 1Malaysia or 1Malaya way back even before 1Malaysia became a catchy slogan. Inculcating ethos and loyalty besides the pursuit of academia are hallmarks of the IJ convents.

IJ nuns also reach out to the poor and disadvantaged, besides taking care of children with disabilities. Lesser known is that up to the 1950s, the IJ nuns clothed, fed, raised and educated many newborns and babies who were abandoned at their doorstep.

The police must leave no stone unturned in their investigations to nab these simply vicious culprits. There should also be more police patrols in that vicinity.

While I urge all Malaysians irrespective of creed to set aside whatever differences in beliefs we may have, I take comfort in reading social media comments that multiracial Malaysians including Muslims have expressed outrage against the attackers. Let us all be united in prayer that the villains will be apprehended but more importantly, Sister Mary Rose and Sister Juliana Lim may recover from their injuries and shock.

*Ong Chong Swen is Wanita MCA Vice Chairman.

**This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.