(AFP) - A recent spate of arson attacks on churches were isolated cases and not the work of extremist groups, Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

There have been four arson attacks on church buildings in the country since late October. Churches in Shah Alam, Segamat (Johor), and Gurun and Sungai Petani (Kedah), have been targetted. No one has been killed in the attacks. Abdullah, who is also home minister in charge of police, said police reports submitted to him showed the fires did not reflect any sectarian or communal animosity.

The incidents should not be misconstrued to suggest growing Muslim hatred towards Christians, he said.

"Do not ever interpret the incidents as such. They are isolated cases relating to problems with the churches concerned," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

In one of the cases, he said it was a Christian man who set the church on fire in anger after being asked to leave the area in which he had been a squatter.

"The man was infuriated when told to stop treating the church as his home and vented his anger by burning statues there," Abdullah said.

In another case, he said certain parties angered by the acquisition of an area earmarked as the site for a hall, set fire to the church erected on the lot.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia, which represents some 5,000 churches nationwide, have urged the government to step up security around churches in the country.

The federation's principal secretary Reverend Wong Kim Kong last week warned Muslim-Christian clashes in Indonesia and the US bombing of Afghanistan could inflame the emotions of Malaysian extremists.

"We cannot rule out that there may be troublemakers out to instigate a religious conflict," he said.

But Inspector General of Police Norian Mai has said attacks on churches were reported occasionally and cannot be interpreted as anything more than "mischief activities".