KUALA LUMPUR: Several Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs urged disciplinary action be taken against Subang Jaya District police personnel in the aftermath of a riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, earlier this morning.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, P Waytha Moorthy, who headed a media conference at the Parliament lobby, here, today, claimed the Subang Jaya District Police issued a false statement that the cause of the riot was a misunderstanding between two Indian groups over the temple's relocation.
He said this was incorrect and irresponsible and had created tension among the Indian community.
He also berated the police for their delay in responding to the incident and controlling the situation.
"We were informed at 2.30am that a group of 50 people armed with iron bars and machetes entered the temple at Seafield and attacked the men inside, including women.
"It is learned that many were injured and some vehicles were burned, as well as five people from the temple were made hostages, before they managed to escape with the identification cards of several individuals who attacked them.
"The question is why only one Subang Jaya police patrol car was at the scene at 4.15am, while the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) arrived at 6am," Waytha Moorthy asked.
Among those present at the press conference were Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Dr Xavier Jayakumar; Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo; Minister of Human Resources M Kulasegaran; Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar; Jelutong parliamentarian RSN Rayer and Hulu Langat MP Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus.
Waytha Moorthy urged Bukit Aman to conduct a full and independent investigation to identify the mastermind behind the riot and attack on the temple.
"We condemn this attack and those responsible for this violent incident must be arrested," he said.
Asked whether he will bring the matter to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Xavier said the matter has already been conveyed to the Prime Minister.
Earlier today, Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor stressed the riot had nothing to do with any racial issues, and that it was a misunderstanding between two groups.
He said 18 vehicles including two motorcycles were damaged due to the fire, and the FRU and police have placed 700 officers and personel at the scene.
Two men in their 30s were injured, according to Mazlan and they were sent to the Serdang Hospital for treatment. They were also arrested to facilitate investigation into the case.