Nun still on life support after vicious attack, as church speaks of CCTV footage

Father Gregory speaking to Shahrizat on the incident at the Seremban church on Wednesday morning which saw two nuns attacked within the church compound. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Faisal, May 16, 2014.One of the two nuns who was viciously attacked outside the Church of the Visitation in Seremban on Wednesday morning remains in a coma and is on life support.

Authorities at the Seremban Hospital said 68-year-old Sister Juliana Lim's situation remains unchanged.

They said that the other victim, Sister Mary-Rose Teng, 80, had suffered a concussion but is expected to recover in the next few days.

Meanwhile, the Church of the Visitation also released a statement today detailing the events that transpired based on CCTV footage of the incident, contradicting a statement from the police yesterday that two CCTVs were not working in front and at the back of the church.

Hospital authorities were on hand to brief Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who visited the two nuns who were attacked in a robbery at about 6am on the church grounds two days ago.

Shahrizat consoled Sr Juliana's biological sister, who was at her bedside this afternoon. She also visited Sr Mary-Rose who is in the same ward.

Church of the Visitation assistant parish priest Father Gregory Chan was also present, informing Shahrizat of the events that transpired on Wednesday morning.

Speaking to reporters after her half hour visit, the Wanita Umno chief condemned the vicious attack and urged the police to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book as soon as possible.

Infant Jesus Sisters provincial head Sister Celina Wong urged all quarters to respect the privacy of the two nuns and their family members.

"As much as the brutality of the incident has caused outrage, we urge all in the cause of publication to please respect the privacy of these nuns and family members.

"We pray that all will kindly refrain from taking any further photographs of these nuns and allow them the privacy and space to recuperate, Sister Celina said, reading from a statement.

The church's statement mentioned that based on their closed-circuit television camera recording, at 6.05am, a passing motorcyclist on seeing the potential victims, made a U-turn and rode into Gate 2 after the sisters' had driven in.

The assailant, wearing a full-screen crash helmet and carrying a lighted torch, ran after the two nuns who were dressed in ordinary clothes.

The assailant was then seen running towards his motorcycle and taking off at 6.07am, after which the sisters were found lying on the ground when the main door of the church was opened at about the same time.

"Unfortunately, both the social media and press media have sensationalised and politicised this tragic incident.

"Given the current tense situation in the country, any incident like this is unfortunately seen in relation to racial sentiments and religious intolerance," parish priest Father John Gnanapiragasam said in the statement.

He added that as Christians who are in solidarity with all true Malaysians, they will continue to believe, pray and promote genuine racial integration and true religious harmony in Malaysia.

"As at press time, we are not aware of any eye witnesses. Contrary to numerous reports and unwarranted speculation and biased interpretation by others, two of our 13 CCTVs have captured part of the incident as it occurred, aided by our brightly lit garden lights,"  Gnanapiragasam added in the statement.