MCA has urged the public not to fall for the trap of provocation in yesterday's act of defiling a Penang mosque with meat.

The act of throwing a slab of meat into the compound of the Cherok Tok Kun mosque in Machang Bubuk, Penang was "unscrupulous" and "absolutely un-Malaysian", said MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker ( below ).

"MCA strongly condemns the actions of certain culprits in their senseless and insensitive action of defiling a religious place of worship," he said in a statement today.

"This unscrupulous act is absolutely un-Malaysian, and does not represent our love for peace and racial harmony.

"As such, we urge all Malaysians to keep calm and not fall into the trap set by those who want to provoke us," he added.

Ti is joined by MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun who, in a separate statement, praised Penangites for not succumbing to the “malicious intents of these agent provocateurs”.

“The Pearl of the Orient has always been known for our harmony where multi-racial children will play with each other during school days, visit each other’s home during festive season.

“At all cost, we must refrain from unsound retaliation, and thus walking straight into the devious trap of the miscreants abusing religion, defiling sacrosanct holy houses to destroy peace-loving societies,” said Chew, who is also Penang MCA liaison committee chairperson.

CM: Persist with multi-racial approach

The incident took place yesterday when the mosque's deputy imam found the slab of meat at the entrance as he was opening up for dawn prayers.

State CID chief Mazlan Kesah reported the matter saying the meat is suspected to be pork, and the incident is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which involves injuring or defiling a place of worship with the intention of insulting a religion.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( right ) after visiting the scene yesterday said remaining calm and continuing Penang's multi-racial approach is "the only way to defeat the provocateurs and the criminals who are out to provoke disunity among us."

He added that Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim and Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon have been instructed to look into the absence of CCTV cameras in the area.

Ti meanwhile urged the police to expedite their probe and apprehend those responsible, and for them to be severely dealt with.

"As such, I strongly urge the police to conduct thorough investigations into this to catch the culprits involved.

"I also urge Malaysians of all races and religions to help each other, and the police, by keeping a lookout on each other’s holy places, just as neighbours keeping watch on each other’s houses," he said.