Perpetrators of the Metro Tabernacle Church arson will be brought to book, even if they are Umno members, vowed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

"I am urging the police to take action against the culprits, no matter who they are," he told reporters after the launch of the Government Transformation Programme in Kuala Lumpur today.

hishammuddin hussien Hishammuddin ( picture: left ), who is Umno vice-president, also rubbished claims that the party had a hand in the attacks.

He said this in response to PKR vice-president Azmin Ali's allegation that Umno members were involved in the Jan 7 incident.

Azmin, who is Gombak MP, said at least four of the eight remanded over the attack are Umno members from the Gombak and Ampang divisions.

"The Umno president should explain why these members were involved. This was a cowardly act by Umno Youth,” he said yesterday.

He said yesterday that full names, MyKad numbers and Umno membership numbers of those involved will be made public soon.

No need to investigate Azmin

Though promising tough action against the perpetrators of the attacks, Hishammuddin dismissed Azmin’s claims as a gimmick, and did not warrant an investigation.

azmin ali "Police need not record a statement from Azmin ( picture: left ) because only politicians will make all kinds of allegations and accusations," he said.

Hishamuddin stressed that no one was immune from the law and that even the son of a police personnel had been arrested in Muar, Johor which showed that the authorities were impartial.

Asked on the delay in the prosecution of suspects detained over the Metro Tabernacle Church incident, Hishammuddin said it was up to the Attorney-General to decide on the matter.

"We have to make sure that (only) the right people are arrested and prosecuted," he said.

To another question, Hishammuddin said he had instructed the IGP to ensure this case is given priority as it is a matter of public interest.

'It doesn't mean Umno behind attacks'

Yesterday, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan had said that allegations that Umno Youth members were involved in the church attacks was just another  strategy by the opposition to make Umno look bad.

Ahmad who is also the Umno information chief urged the opposition to refrain from hurling unsubstantiated accusations and allegations.

"If they have any evidence, they must expose it. What is important is that Umno had never directed anyone. For example, if someone robs and he happens to be an Umno member, it doesn't mean Umno had asked him to do so," he said.