WEEKEND VIEW #5: Protestors Have Been Identified - The Star

Sunday August 30, 2009

Protesters have been identified

PETALING JAYA: Police are investigating Friday’s illegal protest against the relocation of a Hindu temple under the Sedition Act.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said they would be calling those involved in the protest in Shah Alam for questioning.

“We have identified those involved in Friday’s incident and will be recording their statements,” he said.

He also warned that police would not hesitate to take stern action against anyone out to create racial tension.

The 50-strong group gathered after Friday prayers and marched some 300m from the state mosque to the state secretariat building in Shah Alam, carrying a cow’s head.

Claiming to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam, where the temple relocation was proposed, the protesters placed the head outside the state secretariat building for a short period and chanted provocative slogans.

The manner of the protest has drawn strong condemnation from various parties for insulting religious sensitivities, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak asking the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to investigate the matter.

DCP Khalid said the Shah Alam OCPD has been instructed to monitor the situation and act accordingly.

Meanwhile, Musa has advised the Selangor government to solve the temple relocation issue amicably to avoid any untoward

incident. He said the state government

should call the temple committee and residents for a dialogue to settle the matter in view of the potential threat to national security.

“We are also carrying out investigations based on a report lodged by a police officer who was at the site,’’ he said.

He also warned the media not to make matters worse by harping on the subject.

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