A church in Segamat, Johor, was damaged after petrol bombs were pelted into the compound but police were quick to rule out the possibility that militant groups were behind the incident.

"There were burn marks on the main door to the hall, and on pillars at the porch of the church. We also discovered broken, and several intact molotov cocktails at the scene," said Segamat deputy police chief Adnan Alwi when contacted today.

However, Adnan said initial investigations revealed that local youngsters were most probably responsible for the incident which took place over the weekend.

"We can safely say that the culprits were not involved in any group advocating militancy or religious fanaticism," he said, adding that a church committee member who discovered the damage lodged a police report on Sunday.

"People should not speculate because that will only make matters worse," Adnan told malaysiakini .

No arrests

Adnan said the case has been classified under Section 435 of the Penal Code and no arrests have been made so far.

Section 435 states that anyone using fire or explosive substances with the intention to cause damage, valued at RM50 or more, could be fined and imprisoned for up to seven years if convicted.

Last month, the government served a two-year detention order on nine people, mostly PAS members who were allegedly involved in the Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) said to be responsible for several crimes, among others, for the bombing of a church and a temple.

Meanwhile, the church committee could not be reached for comments.