Putrajaya (ANTARA News/Bernama) - Prime Minister Najib Razak Friday condemned those behind irresponsible acts of two incidents of church arson and ordered police to step up checks on all places of worship.

The Prime Minister said he viewed the incident very seriously, especially the two incidents - first an attempt to burn down a church and the second, sending out a threat to another.

Najib said such action can destroy the existing harmony of the country.

"I condemn such action by the irresponsible people because it can harm the cordial relationship and harmony that has been in existence. As a multi-racial community we must practice respect for one another...it cannot come under threat from anybody," he told reporters after witnessing an exchange of memorandum for Human Resource Development in the Northern Corridor Economic Region, here Friday.

Najib added that the government would take whatever action needed to curb such incidents.

He added that he had directed Malaysia`s Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan to beef up security at all places of worship.

Early this morning, two church arson incidents had taken place in Desa Melawati and Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya while another received a threat.

Najib said whatever problem or issue in the country must be resolved through the proper procedures or through the law.

"There should be no overzealous action that can harm the harmony of the country," he said.

The Prime Minister said fingers should not be pointed at Umno for such action.

"The matter must be handed to the authorities for proper investigation and action in accordance with the law," he said.

Asked of the planned protest rallies after the Friday prayers, Najib said he had already informed the police to monitor the situation.

"That`s why they must nip it in the bud, hope with this statement and action by the police, people will not take the law into their hands," Najib said.

Najib added that he would receive information on such incidents from Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the Inspector-General of Police.

"When he gets the evidence, he will report to me," Najib said.

The Prime Minister also refuted a claim by a journalist from an online portal that United Malays National Organisation (Umno) members were the ones responsible for starting the flames after the High Court had ruled that the word "Allah" can be used by Catholic Weekly-Herald.

"Don`t point the finger at Umno or anybody. We have always been very responsible. Don`t say that these attacks were motivated by Umno. That is a very scurrilous statement that you have just made. You are alluding to it. Please stop that," Najib told the journalist.
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Editor: Suryanto
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