Eight gravestones in Kuantan Christian cemetery vandalised

As religious tensions run high in the country, eight gravestones at a Christian cemetery in Tanjung Api, near Kuantan, were found damaged.

The Star Online reported that most of the gravestones had its structures broken, including crosses, possibly with the use of a heavy tool. Several others had its flowerpots as well as other stone markers damaged, removed and smashed into pieces.

Kuantan Tanjung Api Christian Cemetery Committee chairperson Datuk Jack How said a grass cutter who was engaged to clean the cemetery monthly spotted the damaged and alerted him today.

How said a police report was lodged after he inspected the site.

"We are extremely upset and strongly condemn such irresponsible acts and want immediate action taken by the authorities.

"Those guilty should be caught and stern action taken to prevent the situation from getting out of hand," the Star Online reported him as saying.

How, who is also the Indera Mahkota MCA division chief, said the cemetery was located on a piece of state land measuring 1.5 acres. He said it was shared by 36 churches in Kuantan since 1997.

"The area is accessible via a small gate at any time of the day.

"All these years, we did not encounter such problems and we suspect vandals committed the acts recently," he said, while urging the police to conduct regular patrolling in the area and other similar sites to prevent a recurrence.

How said the committee had no immediate plans to employ security guards as the land belonged to the state government.

Pahang CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Zakaria Ahmad when contacted said he had yet to be informed of the incident.

SAC Mohd Zakaria said an investigation would be conducted once they received a full report and deployed personnel to the site.