Church attack: Mindef ready to work closely with police, NSC

The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is ready to work closely with the police and the National Security Council (NSC) to coordinate any action needed pertaining to the 'molotov cocktail' attack on a church in Penang early Monday morning. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who viewed the matter seriously, said he saw the issue as a national polemic that would eventually translate into a more aggressive action. "We need to resolve it in a very prudent manner and I am confident the relevant authorities can do it, having handled this issue while I was with the Home Ministry previously," he told reporters after attending the Armed Forces 2013 Sports Award Night at Wisma Perwira here on Monday night. In the 1.30 am incident, two molotov cocktails were thrown into the church's compound but did not cause any serious damage. The incident was said to be related to banner swith the words 'Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Allah' that were hung outside churches at Lebuh Farquhar, Sungai Pinang, Pulau Tikus and Gelugor on Penang island. At the function, 76 recipients received awards for various categories, including Buda Ak Anchah (bodybuilding) for the Sportsman Award 2013 and Nur Syazwani Anuar (petanque) for the Sportswoman Award 2013.