The protest calling for the removal of a cross from a church building did not breach the Sedition Act 1948, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar says.

"We don't see any form of sedition because it did not touch religion, it did not touch the Christian faith.

"The local residents were protesting against the location of the church.

"You must be careful in this aspect. Don't link this to something that involves the Christian faith," Khalid told reporters.

However, Khalid's boss, the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, believed in the contrary and deemed the protest to be seditious .

Khalid also noted that upon the request of the residents in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, the pastor himself agreed to remove the cross.

"There was no violence. We (the police) see it as a flash mob carried out by the residents, without orchestration from any quarters," he added.

As for his brother Abdullah's participation in yesterday's protest, Khalid said action would be taken, without prejudice, if the law was broken.

In a separate press conference this afternoon, Abdullah ( left ), an Umno division leader, clarified he was not leading the protest as reported and was only present to mediate .

Brother prevented untoward incidents

Khalid also said he checked on his brother's presence and was informed by a police officer that Abdullah was there in his capacity as a local leader.

As a local leader, he pointed out, his brother has the responsibility to ensure the residents do not become aggressive.

"That was the role taken by my brother," he added.

Khalid also called on the local council and state government to look at the issues raised by the local residents in order to resolve them.

"This is a protest by local residents, we urge the local council to resolve it before it becomes even worse.

"The local council and state government cannot wash their hands. The elected representative must also play a role.

"Don't leave it to the police to resolve the issue," he said.

As for a reporter from The Star stating he was threatened by the protesters, Khalid urged him to lodge a police report.

He also revealed that there were no police reports from the public regarding the protest as yet.

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