The police have recorded statements from five individuals in connection with the spreading of a Short Messaging Service (SMS) claiming that a church in Perak was conducting a baptism ceremony for Muslims over the weekend.

State police chief Abdul Aziz Bulat said they are also tracing the whereabouts of several others who can shed some light on this case.

"We'll conduct a detailed investigation from all angles before the findings are handed to the DPP," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

However, it could not be confirmed if Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria was among those called.

According to the police, Harussani was not a suspect but his name was mentioned in the widely circulated SMS.

Racial incident

The SMS nearly caused a racial incident after a large crowd of angry Muslims gathered at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin to stop the alleged baptism.

However it turned out that the actual function in the church was the first Holy Communion for 110 Indian children.

The protesters had refused to disperse despite warnings from the police - which even had a team from the Federal Reserve Unit on the spot.

Meanwhile, Aziz said three police reports have been lodged over the incident, one by the police itself and the others by Umno Youth and the church respectively. The case is being investigated under the Sedition Act.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said stern actions should be taken against those who spread such malicious rumours.

He said that he had informed Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan to act swiftly against the culprits.