'Quran found in drain': IGP calls for calm, says don't speculate

 

Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah advised the public not to feel “anxious” and refrain from speculating on the incident where copies of the Quran were found discarded at various locations in the Klang Valley, including in a drain in Gombak.

He said police have quizzed eight individuals to facilitate investigations under Section 295 and Section 298A of the Penal Code.

Section 295 reads: “Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons, with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons, or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

Whereas Section 298A concerns causing "disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion."

“We are working hard to trace the perpetrator(s) and ensure that the person(s) responsible are brought to justice,” said the national police chief in a statement this afternoon.

Acryl (above) said those who wish to dispose of copies of the Quran should obtain proper advice from the local Islamic department before doing so.

Sent for analysis

On Feb 19, it was reported that a video showing a person retrieving copies of the Quran from a drain went viral on social media.

The video also showed one person collecting the discarded copies from the gutter - while another was seen arranging them.

The person who recorded the video said that some of the copies were still in good condition, while there were also those with their covers torn.

On Feb 21, Kuala Lumpur police chief Azmi Abu Kassim said the copies of the Quran would be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

“We will also check footage from nearby CCTVs and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) traffic surveillance system," he added. - Mkini