Comment by Lim Guan Eng in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, 27^th January 2010: 

More attacks on places of worship – hatred and violence versus love and peace 

It saddens me that less than one week after the arson attempts on two suraus in Muar, more despicable incidents took place in the Klang Valley today, whereby the heads of wild boars were found at the Masjid Jumhuriyah in Taman Dato Harun and the Al- Imam Tirmizi mosque at Taman Sri Sentosa near Old Klang Road this morning.

This reminded us of the infamous “cow head” incident that took place last year in Shah Alam where irresponsible parties tried to fan religious and racial sentiments by hurling insults against fellow Malaysians who are Hindus. Such actions were condemned by Malaysians of all religious backgrounds and similar condemnation must be directed against the culprits who caused today's “pig-head” incident in mosques.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had downplayed the various attacks on places of worship in the country since early this month as “minor aberrations”. It is not impossible that such a not-too-serious attitude had encouraged more negative elements to launch more senseless initiatives to erode Malaysians' harmonious way of life.

The DAP wishes to reiterate our call that an inter-religious council should be established to provide a consultative and advisory platform for all religious bodies in the country so that through dialogue and discussion, religious harmony and understanding among the citizens can be further strengthened.

It is obvious that those who are responsible for the series of attacks on places of worship in our country are people who have minimal understanding not only of others religious beliefs, but also of their own religious teachings which surely does not advocate hatred and violence but love and peace.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General & Penang Chief Minister; Member of Parliament for Bagan