Malaysiakini(http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Parents of surau vandals apologise, 26 August 2010
The parents of four teenagers who allegedly threw red paint and liquor bottles at surau in Seremban have apologised to the surau committee and all Muslims over the incident.
The apology was tendered during a meeting organised by the Negeri Sembilan MCA, which saw the parents shaking hands with surau committee chairperson Mohd Hasbi Ismail.
According to Bernama, the parents - Cheng Kok Foo, 38, Wong Seow Wai, 43, Loh Teck Ai, 53, and Leong Foong Kuen,
53 - apologised to Muslims, particularly those in Taman Pulai Impian, a Sikamat residential area.
"We admit that our children have committed a serious offence and we, on behalf
of our children, would like to apologise for what they have done. We are sorry
and we regret the incident," they said.
Present were state MCA chairperson Dr Yeow Chai Thiam and Taman Panchor Jaya Umno branch chief, who is also the Sikamat constituency service centre coordinator, Arshad Jawi.
Mohd Hasbi said he appreciated the apology and thanked MCA for organising the meet, which he said would serve to sooth simmering ethnic tensions.
"I hope that after this, the parents can shape the attitudes of their children so that this does not recur. Advise them on what is right, especially on sensitive matters such as religion," he said.
"This should not happen to any place of worship. This is a sensitive issue which can affect the feelings of all Muslims in the country," he added.
MCA: Lesson for all of us
Yeow said that he hoped the incident would serve as a lesson that Malaysians need to be extremely vigilant in order to maintain social harmony.
"For the sake of unity, I organised this meeting for those involved to apologise. This happened because the four suspects did not understand what they were doing," he said.
He said MCA would be organising a buka puasa event tomorrow at the same venue, where a multi-ethnic crowd of 500 is expected.
According to the police, the surau was vandalised during the wee hours of Aug 23, involving several teenagers who were earlier chided by the mosque committee members for playing with fireworks.
They were arrested the following day and their remand expires tomorrow.
Prior to the revelation that the four teenagers were of Chinese origin, an MCA central committee member had called for the government to strip the citizenship of those responsible for the incident.
(2) Apology insufficient, they should be punished, 27 August 2010
Even though they did this not because they intent to stoke racial or religious sentiments, it is still vandalism. These four should be charged.'
Parents of surau vandals apologise
Keropok Lekor: It's good that at least the parents take responsibility for their kids' actions, and the apology is necessary. Better yet if this sort of sacrilege never happens: be it cow-head stomping, church bombing, paint or pig-head throwing at masjids/surau.
Respect for each other's faith will go a long way to building a nation and Malaysia surely needs us to be Malaysians first, colour second (contrary to DPM Muhyiddin Yassin's stance).
Gen2: They should apologise to all Malaysians, not just the surau committee and Muslims. Their senseless action clearly added to inter-racial/inter-religious tension. Small actions like this when added up could tip the nation into another race riot.
Daseen: Whatever said and done, 'tahniah' (congratulation) to the police effort and for speedily solving of this wanton case. They have manage to calm the nerves of both the Muslims and non-Muslims in this holy month of Ramadan.
As for the morons and clowns who blame Umno for orchestrating this, they ought to eat their 'fitnah' (lies). As for the boys, they ought to be charge and if proven guilty send to the juvenile detention centre.
Let this be a lesson to all fellow rakyat - don't go vandalising places of worship.
Ruben: This is a very serious offence as you are talking about desecrating holy places of worship. Places of worship should be given the highest respect. I would recommend that first and foremost these criminals, besides being given a heavy sentence, perform some retribution to the very religion that they have maligned. We cannot tolerate any of this type of nonsense.
I am of the opinion that whilst these people exist in every religion, they really represent an insignificant percentage of the population. Also, the police should be stepping up efforts to prevent recurrence of these types of horrible behaviour.
Anonymous: Irrespective of race, all should be equally treated. Even though they did this not because they intent to stoke racial or religious sentiments, it is still vandalism. These four should be charged for vandalism. This should be a lesson to all.
Perak Boleh: These boys ought to be taught a lesson. Make them do community service starting with cleaning up the surau toilets and compound every weekend for a minimum period of one year for all the inconvenience and tension caused to our multiracial society.
Their parents are also liable for their children's misbehaviour and likewise must accompany them to do the community service.
Nicole: These parents have failed to instill good behaviour in their offsprings. I blame the parents and I urge that they be given a stern warning and the boys be thoroughly punished.
FairMind: The Chinese vandals should be subjected to the same proportionate treatment as the Malays who burned down the church.
Although, in this case they are most probably seeking revenge rather than stoking hatred among the races, they should be charged for vandalising property and should not be so easily forgiven like what MCA is doing. What message are we sending to racist and religious fanatics?
All Malaysians should be treated equally and understand the consequences of provoking sensitive issues.
John 8:32: The call by MCA to strip the citizenship of the alleged vandals, who were initially thought to be Chinese, shows once again the state of mind of MCA leaders. Why must MCA equate vandalism with race, religion or citizenship?
Ida Bakar: What is all these strip-them-of-citizenship lark? These boys are/were hooligans. If it were not the surau, it would have been other public places of importance or a private property.
Name them, shame them and make them clean up out of their own pocket and make them understand how their mindless action had (almost) brought about racial discord and how it became a fodder for political capital.
The surau committee should act as bridge between the vandals and their families and the local Muslim community. More good will come out of Islamic compassion and understanding than sabre-rattling politiking.
Anonymous: Does MCA regard crimes of this nature to be punishable by stripping citizenship? If this be the case, the it should apply to all races. After all, by MCA's reasoning, it is the crime that determines the punishment, not skin colour nor religion. Or does MCA has in mind two sets of punishment - one for Malays, one for 'pendatangs' (immigrants)?
AkuMelayu: There is no reason for anyone not to accept their apology. Children being children are a mischievous lot. Adults should understand this because they were once kids too. MCA shouldn't be blame for calling the government to strip the culprits their citizenship because if the culprits were adults, they should be dealt with severely.
I personally as a Muslim will forgive them regardless of their race and every responsible citizens should stop playing the blame game.
Jaguh: Irregardless of the apology, they need to be charged in court and let the judge decide. There is only one law for all and they should be given appropriate punishment. This will deter others from doing the same.
Just Me: Whether they are Chinese or any other race is irrelevant. They broke the law, they must be punish according to the law. You break, you pay. Simple as that.
Md Imraz Muhammed Ikhbal: The benefit of the doubt must go to MCA for doing something good. Whilst we have a right to be suspicious of the intentions of any BN party, we should nevertheless not question MCA's sincerity for it is the matter of the heart known only to the Almighty.
A nation that unconditionally enjoin good and forbid evil without being partisan is the best of nations and indeed deserving of prosperity and progress. I applaud MCA for this noble gesture and call upon all to support, embrace and emulate this show of unity and integrity.
Dbctan: Apologies by the parents are not enough: the culprits themselves should apologise, and it would be good too to let them compensate their act by having them repaint the surau at their own cost.
Phra Ong Chao: The law must be blind to skin colour. If Malays who burn churches are punished under the law, so must Chinese who vandalise mosques, or the green alien who vandalise synagogues.
Artchan: I don't care if they are Chinese or not. Punish them and make them spend some time in jail or make them do community work. It doesn't matter if the vandalised mosques or bus stand or any public place.
So next time, when you vandalise something, you apologise and it is okay?
Nazariyusoff: As a Muslim, thank you for all the comments.
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