![The Church of Assumption at Lebuh Farquhuar, Penang, the target of the Molotov cocktail attack last January. – The Malaysian Insider pic, April 6, 2014.](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/assets/uploads/resizer/molotov_COCKTAIL_CHURCH_270114_TMIHASNOOR_02_540_358_100.jpg)
Despite forwarding the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor, there were a lack of witnesses, clues and CCTV recordings to help police conduct further probes into both incidents, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN - Putatan) in a written parliamentary reply.
"There were no witnesses or CCTVs nearby to facilitate investigations. To date, there have been no arrests or clues," he said, referring to the Molotov cocktail attack on the Church of the Assumption in Penang.
Zahid said the investigation papers were forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor on February 27.
On the provocative banners which carried the words "Allah is Great. Jesus is the Son of Allah" strung up outside three churches, Zahid said three investigation papers had been opened.
"Investigations into the scenes of the crime found that there were no witnesses or clues since it happened early in the morning and there were no CCTV recordings to help the investigation," he said.
Investigation papers into the incident will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor for advice and further action, he added.
Zahid said the police were constantly doing their rounds to ensure security.
"The government views such incidents seriously to prevent any untoward incidents," he added.
Tensions spiked when two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang on January 27.
One of the bombs exploded while the other fell on the grass and did not explode.
Initial police investigations revealed two men on a motorcycle committed the crime.
![Provocative banners such as this were found at the entrances of some churches in Penang last January. – The Malaysian Insider pic, April 6, 2014.](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/assets/uploads/resizer/jesus_400_300_100.jpg)
Penang.
The churches have denied they put up the banners and have lodged police reports over the matter.
Tensions between Muslims and Christians have been on a high since 2009, after the Home Ministry banned the Catholic weekly Herald from using the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia section.
In 2010, several churches nationwide and a Catholic school were attacked following the High Court ruling which overturned the ministry's ban on the Herald’s use of the Arabic word for God.
The Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur suffered the worst damage after arsonists torched its premises in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, leaving its ground floor destroyed. The church subsequently moved to a new building in Batu Caves.
In August 2010, the sessions court found siblings Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim guilty of the arson attack.
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