Two surau hit by arsonists

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

MUAR: Two separate surau in two villages in Sabak Aur and Parit Beting, located about one kilometre apart, were partially damaged in two arson attempts.

In an immediate reaction, Muar district officer Mislan Karmani called for calm and said the acts of arson were the work of “some crazy people who want to create fear and disunity among Malaysians in Muar.”

In the first incident, the Surau Sirrahtulrahim at Jalan Ismail in Sabak Aur had its curtain and parts of the wall scorched.

Village head Idris Sehan believed someone had splashed kerosene near the window on the front wall. Passers-by put out the fire at 2am yesterday.

Over in Parit Beting, the surau at Jalan Salleh had its side door burnt and a window broken.

The damage was only noticed at 11am when some children went to the surau to attend a Quran class.

Mislan called on all village heads and community leaders in the district to look after all houses of worship in their respective areas.

“The incidents are not related to race or religion,” he said.

Johor deputy police chief SAC I Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said no one should exploit the issue and the police should be allowed to handle the investigations.

SAC I Jalaluddin, who was accompanied by Johor OCCI SAC II Datuk Amer Awal, said police believed the two incidents were caused by the same people.

Anyone with information can call Johor police at 07-2212999 or the Muar police at 06-9526001.