IGP Comments On Seafield Temple Issue.- Easy For You To Comment, But Its Not Easy As That....

SUBANG JAYA: The police did not use the water cannon to disperse the mob at a Hindu temple in USJ 25, Putra Heights, near here because the standard operating procedure (SOP) disallows the use of the facility in the vicinity of houses of worship.

“This was a house of worship. Don’t tell me you want to use a water cannon. Is it logical?” said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.


The police had to act according to the situation to prevent it from worsening, he said at a press conference at the Sime Darby Medical Centre here today.

He said using the water cannon would have subjected the police to severe criticism because they were also being accused even when they provided assistance.

“We were providing security. We did not expect a certain group masterminded by certain quarters to have acted early. Our security was ongoing and we cannot stop people from wanting to worship (at the temple),” he said.

Mohamad Fuzi was asked to comment on the claims by certain quarters who questioned why the police did not act early to disperse the mob with the use of water cannons.

He had earlier visited Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, the firefighter from the Subang Jaya Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS), who was assaulted by some members of the mob and severely injured.

Mohamad Fuzi said it was sad what happened to the firefighter who was only doing his job of helping to put out fires and aiding those in need.

The IGP said he also visited his family member who had fractured a hand in the riot.

Asked about claims that the police did not act to prevent the mob from attacking the firefighter and damaging One City Mall, Mohamad Fuzi said the mob acted in an area that was not covered by the police.

“The police are not in 100 per cent of an area. They attacked when we were not there. They did not do so in our presence.

“The mob sneaked into the area when we were on the move. One City Mall is quite far from the temple, about one kilometre. You cannot expect us to cover the whole area unless we have specific information,” he said.

Asked whether the developer, One City Development, had lodged a police report on the incident, Mohamad Fuzi said he could not confirm that as he had not been informed.

Mohamad Fuzi asked the people to assist the police to identify and arrest those responsible for sparking the riot.

“The operation to hunt down the culprits is being launched. We hope the public can help us identify them. On the masterminds, he said the police had some leads and were working on it,” he said.

Mohamad Fuzi reminded all quarters not to listen to rumours and fake news which can worsen the situation and said the police will continue to take the necessary measures to maintain public order. - Bernama