Police need to investigate further the recent church attacks before making any arrest as they have to ensure that the suspects really committed the offence, says Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

NONE Asked by reporters why the police had not made any arrest although there were indications, he said the police needed to look at the bigger scenario, whether the church attacks were a conspiracy by certain quarters with a hidden agenda or just isolated cases.

"So far, it seems that these are isolated cases. God willing, they can be curbed. What is worrying is if the acts were coordinated by certain groups," he said.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin was reported to have said that police already had some indications or information to identify the suspects who committed arson at the Metro Tabernacle church in Desa Melawati but declined to elaborate as the investigation was ongoing.

Hishammuddin said until this morning, there had been no new incidents reported but monitoring would continue to prevent anymore such attacks.

Action against Anwar

On the statement by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that the church attacks were politically motivated , he said this aspect was also being monitored and action would be taken against opportunists who politicised the issue including Anwar himself.

He said the incidents must not be turned into a racial issue which could create tension and threaten national security.

On the suggestion by social activist and International Movement for a Just World (JUST) president Chandra Muzaffar that a national harmony consultative council be set up to discuss sensitive religious issues, he said he would discuss it with Chandra before a decision could be made by the authorities concerned.

Hishammuddin also welcomed suggestions from the public on how to strengthen racial and religious relations in Malaysia.

- Bernama