Temple incident not a racial issue, say police

The police have advised the people against regarding as a racial issue the smashing of idols at a Hindu temple in Ipoh yesterday by a man believed to be of unsound mind.

Ipoh police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said the 29-year-old man, who had smashed nine idols at the Sree Muneeswarar Amman Temple in front of Angsana Mall in Jalan Hospital, would be sent for a medical examination.

“Only the priest was at the temple during the incident which occurred at 5.10pm,” he told reporters after a visit to the temple late last night.

After smashing the idols, the man drove his car against traffic along Jalan Ghazali Jawi and crashed it onto a bus shelter, he said.

Police arrested the man, he added.

- Bernama