Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar today called on the public to remain calm in the wake of a protest against a proposed temple relocation which saw some 50 angry residents marching with a severed cow's head in Shah Alam.

NONE The police chief also cautioned the public against holding demonstrations which touch on religious sensitivities.

"There was no police permit for this protest. It was an illegal gathering. The crowd gathered for about 15 minutes and dispersed after they were instructed to do so.

"They were also ordered to remove the cow's head, which they complied," he told Malaysiakini.

As of now, Khalid said no police report has been lodged over the incident.

"If a report is lodged, we will definitely take the necessary action," he stressed.

Expressing regret over the incident, the police chief reiterated that everyone should respect religious and racial sensitivities and not resort to such actions.

Exco to lodge police report

Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said he would be lodging a police report over the matter soon.

NONE He also expressed disappointment with police personnel who were at the scene for not taking action.

Following this afternoon's Friday prayers, some 50 residents from Section 23 marched from the state mosque to the secretariat building in Shah Alam with the cow's head.

The protesters then placed the cow's head outside the gates of the state secretariat building before removing it later.

The protest evoked condemnation from various quarters, including MIC president S Samy Vellu and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

Samy Vellu, who was saddened by the incident, urged the police to take action against the organisers.