If the perpetrators are not caught and the law enforcers fail to punish them, then these arsonists (who may very well be educated and religious in their own ways) may take it as a license to attack the real body of the church in the future.

That is the question facing the PM and the future of this country. The media should put him on the spot to resolve this crisis – which is in two parts:

1. freedom of religious worship as enshrined in the constitution and

2. the rise of lawlessness against the godly.

All other issues are just side issues which can be resolved without the politicians getting their hands dirty.

No self-respecting individual of any group would admit to having committed such an act either by implication of their words, deed or omissions as this Board [...] without the evidence that is required to establish who did it.

We appear to be fast turning out a generation of [people] who conclude without proof on evidence that is irrelevant and tainted.

Show me the evidence the firebombings was done by Malay [Malaysians] or Muslims and I will eat my hat or your shorts [...].

[...]

Till you secure a conviction stop the hypocritical bon homie and backslapping [...]. [...]

Gopal Raj Kumar

I believe that the majority of the Malay Muslims are not amused with the wanton destruction of houses of worship. Nor with those who incite and fuel others whose faith is shallow in doing their despicable deeds, all in the name of politics and remaining in office at all cost.

This has left a blemish on our nation which will not go away anytime soon. I pray to God Almighty that the majority and that peace-loving Muslims in Malaysia will make their stand together against such underhanded tactics loud and clear.

May God the Almighty have mercy and forgive the inciters and perpetrators of this dastardly terrorism and crime.

I’m saddened and do not condone the actions of those irresponsible people and hope that the government will take action against them. I’m a Malay Muslim and at this moment I felt so embarrassed to even acknowledge that I’m Malaysian.

I’ve always been proud to be Malaysian before, because I grew up in an environment that embraced different cultures, religions and languages. I knew my neighbours – Ah Chong who owns mini market in my kampung and Muthu who is a Hindu, but we all lived in peace and harmony. Never was there a time that race and religion become an issue to us.

Why are certain Malaysians who lack education, knowledge and are ill-informed acting foolishly by destroying churches? What’s that to prove to the rest of the world? Are we Malaysians already not learning from our “13 May” incident? Where is the lesson learned from all of this? Have we not already moved beyond the racial tensions or are we still stuck with medieval mentalities? The funny part about all of these is that only Malay Malaysians have acted cowardly and use religion as a scapegoat. At the end, we, as Malaysians will be the one who’ll pay the price for our own actions.

Younger generations who before this never saw anything like it may follow the same footsteps in the future by showing lack of respect to other beliefs in this country. We need to have separation between churches, mosques, temples and the state and federal government.

For those educated Malaysians, please help us and this country to restore calm, peace and harmony where it should be. And for those naysayers and haters, hope that one day you realise that you guys has destroyed the basic fundamental belief system of true Malaysians.

My thoughts and prayers to those working relentlessly to restore peace back in Malaysia. We don’t need another riot and “13 May” history repeating.

I am not a Christian. I am just a true-blood Malaysian.

Your condemnation of the action of those who destroyed places of worship to which one does not belong is most praise-worthy. Your citation of Islamic values is most appropriate and should be practised, not only by Muslims, but by people of all faiths, be they Chiristians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Confucianists or other religions.

These values have been and will always be the very foundation on which Malaya and Malaysia was founded. On these fundamentals we all of us prospered and will prosper. I suggest that your message should be highlighted in all media, print and electronic, throughout the world, to reflect the true 1Malaysian sentiments and commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Malaysia, which we all love and cherish. I subscribe to your Islamic understanding.

Datuk Freddie Long Hoo Hin,
former Johor State Executive Councillor &
Wakil Rakyat for Gertak Merah (2 terms) and Stulang (3 terms)