Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has urged the Hindu community in Ipoh, Perak, to remain calm and refrain from inciting conflict after a temple was vandalised.

Khalid said this was because the suspect is mentally unstable and has been sent for treatment at Hospital Bahagia, Tanjung Rambutan.

“I urge the Indian community in Ipoh to remain calm because the suspect is mentally unstable. It (vandalism) was done by a mentally unstable person.

“The man is a doctor who has been fired from Ipoh Hospital due to mental problems,” Khalid told reporters in Bangi today.

He also said the police have met with the Hindu community to explain the matter and contain the situation.

The man had reportedly run amok yesterday, around 5pm, and broke into the Sree Muneeswaran Amman temple along Jalan Hospital, where he destroyed several statutes.

The individual later crashed his car into a bus stop not far from the temple while trying to escape.

The suspect was subsequently arrested by the police.

In a statement, the Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) also called for calm and urged Hindus to allow the police to investigate the matter.

However, the association said since this is not the first time such an incident has occurred, the government must introduce stricter laws for the protection of places of worship.

Mipas also warned that such incidents have the potential to threaten peace and harmony.