PM assures that govt will find temple riots mastermind

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday gave the assurance that the government will find the mastermind behind the riots near a Hindu temple in Selangor early Monday and Tuesday.

A firefighter was seriously injured, several other people were also hurt, 23 cars were torched and a section of the One City Mall was damaged during the riots in the vicinity of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Putra Heights, near Subang Jaya.

“We are trying our best to find the culprit. We do not have much evidence but the police will conduct a thorough investigation to find out who was responsible,” he said at a press conference at the National Heart Institute (IJN) after visiting the injured firefighter, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, 24.

Initial reports said Muhammad Adib was assaulted by a mob when he arrived to put out a vehicle fire but the save-the-temple task force chairman, S. Ramaji, said later that he was pinned behind a reversing fire truck and was rushed to hospital by some of the protesters.

Referring to the riots, Dr Mahathir said: “We can demonstrate but it should be peaceful. This was not a demonstration.

This was something to kill people. They came with parangs and all (kinds of) weapons.”

He was also critical of two lawyers who allegedly hired a group of people to occupy the temple, saying it was done without thinking of the consequences.

“These foreigners do not understand the culture of Malaysians. You cannot do that. If we find out who is the one who did this, I think the AG (AttorneyGeneral) and lawyers have to find some case against it.”

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin disclosed earlier today that lawyers of the developer company had hired a group of Malays to occupy the temple.

On a request by the temple management for him to intervene in the issue of the relocation of the house of worship, Dr Mahathir said he would make a statement in Parliament today.

Relating the condition of Muhammad Adib, the Prime Minister said the firefighter’s heart, lungs and kidneys were still functioning, thanks to the expertise of the doctors at IJN.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik; Human Resource Minister M. Kula Segaran and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah also visited Muhammad Adib. - Bernama