'Khairy Jamaluddin should be commended for taking the effort to contain the wrath of Muslims over this provocative incident which could have been disastrous to the common people.'

BN-Pakatan Youth issue rare joint statement

Nedunchelian Vengu: The fact that the youth wings regardless of their political ideology came under one umbrella to condemn vandalism against places of worship is something that should be given the thumbs up. But my million dollar question is why only now.

This statement should have come during the ‘cow head' protest or at least when the first church in Petaling Jaya was attacked with Molotov cocktails.

Prithipal: If swine is considered offensive to the Muslims, what about the ‘cow head' that was paraded? Is that not offensive to the Hindus? None of the so-called youth heads protested when the cow head was paraded in Shah Alam not too long ago. Stop being hypocrites of the first degree.

Gk: I would like to give these youth wings the benefit of doubt in coming up with this joint statement to condemn the vandalism of religious places of devotion.

The question of why such a joint statement did not happen during the ‘cow head' incident should not be taken as hypocrisy as it is the continuous happening of such events that has now resulted in the birth of such a joint statement.

This realisation of sharing common sense among political parties should be welcomed by all peace-loving Malaysians so as to achieve a principled and matured political landscape. Bravo youngsters, you show your elders that you are indeed more matured than them.

RR: Better late than never. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin should be commended for taking the effort to contain the wrath of Muslims over this provocative incident which could have been disastrous to the common people.

Azmil Tayeb: The coming together of all the youth sections of the political parties to condemn the attacks on places of worship is a very exemplary and a heartwarming action. This is indeed a starting point for the realisation of an inter-religious consultative forum.

The prime minister has to take the initiative to solve this problem of the attacks on the places of worship as it is rampant and repetitive in nature. The news has gone round the globe and it has to be solved quickly to make the country peaceful again.

Disgusted: I hope it is not a smokescreen by Umno Youth to score some brownie points with the rakyat when it is known that it was they and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Onn who in the first place encouraged protests over the ‘Allah' issue which was capitalised on by some extreme groups and NGOs under the aegis of Umno which in turn provoked some extremists within them to be agent provocateurs and create these incidents.

But for the sake of unity and peace, let's hope it is snuffed out before it becomes a racial/ religious conflagration which will set back this beautiful country by a decade or more.

The NGOs, religious institutions and newspapers like Utusan Malaysia , which have been fanning the fires of racism and religious intolerance, should also stop doing so for the sake of peace and harmony in this nation.

Until then there will be some hidden forces still out to create trouble and disharmony by pitting race against race and religion against religion. Let's pray peace and order will finally prevail again.

David Dass: A good step. But what must be acknowledged is the colossal ignorance and the intense suspicion and resentment which clearly exists between the races and the religious groups. Our much acclaimed harmony has disappeared like the morning mist with the first rays of the sun.

Why should men of intense faith fear each other? Why should anyone fear another faith that preaches good? What faith teaches violence? If there is only one God as many believe then which God listens when prayed to? Will God not hear you when you call him by another name? Will God not answer if you call him ‘Tuhan' and not ‘Allah'? Or will God be offended if a non- Muslim called him ‘Allah'?

Will God be pleased when you bomb a church or throw the head of a boar into a place of worship? Does God expect you to kill and maim others for political causes? What have the last few weeks said about Malaysian society? Is there hope for us? What can we do to secure our future? Does democracy have a fragile existence here?

Tan Chee Kiong: I would now suggest that the youth wings of all these political parties join forces to fight against corruption the most heinous crime which is destroying our country.

Multi Racial: At least these youth wings know how to put the country and the people above themselves. Good start but not enough. They need to come together to fight racism, extremism, and corruption. For a start, put pressure on the attorney-general and PM to prosecute Eusoff Chin and VK Lingam.