Fourth Hindu temple desecrated in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Another Hindu temple in Penang has been desecrated making this the fourth act of defilement in two months.
Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy said the temple committee of the Sri Muneeswarar Temple in Jalan Tengku Kudin here was notified of the incident by the caretaker about 5.30am today.
He said three deities were damaged after the temple grounds were broken into and described the act as a "hate crime."
He said the arm and the trunk of a statue of Lord Ganesha was damaged while the Lingam, an aniconic of Lord Siva, had the head knocked off.
He said the headpiece of a statue of Lord Muneeswarar was damaged after the inner sanctum was broken into.
Ramasamy, who is also Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) chairman, urged temples statewide to install close circuit television cameras (CCTV) so evidence can be captured if such acts happened following the latest affair.
He said he will be writing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Penang police chief and Northeast district police chef to call for action to be taken.
"The losses are estimated to be around RM100,000," he told theSun when met at the scene.
When contacted, Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer, who visited the site earlier, called for calm and let the police do their work.
"I urge the police to investigate this matter and bring the culprits who did this cowardly act to book," he added.
In a statement, Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Farid Alatrash Wahid confirmed a police report has been lodged.
"Police are conducting a thorough investigation to identify those involved and the motive," he said and urged those with information to contact the police.
On July 4, the Dewa Sri Mathuraiveeran Temple in Sungai Nibong Kechil was defiled after a statue of the deity Mathuraiveeran (warrior god) was smashed while a copper figure of Amman (goddess of Shakti) was stolen.
Last month, two temples in Penanti, the Sri Dharma Muniswarar Temple and Muthu Mariamman Temple, were vandalised.