Perak government gives RM30,000 to repair damaged idols at temple

The Perak government is to provide RM30,000 to a Hindu temple here to restore idols damaged in an incident yesterday, as well as for a religious ceremony.

State Health, Transport, National Integration, Non-Muslim Affairs and New Villages Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who made the announcement, advised the people to remain calm and allow the police to conduct their investigation.

A 29-year-old man believed to be of unsound mind had smashed several idols at the Sree Muneeswarar Amman Temple in Jalan Hospital here at 5.10pm yesterday.

READ: IGP urges Hindus to remain calm over Ipoh temple incident

He then drove his car against traffic along Jalan Ghazali Jawi and crashed the vehicle onto a bus shelter. Police arrested him.

Dr Mah said the state government strongly criticised the act and the police were conducting an investigation into the case.

"It is important that we maintain peace and harmony in the state," he told reporters after a visit to the temple today.

Dr Mah dismissed a claim that the man was a staff of the Health Ministry.

"The suspect resigned on April 22 by tendering a 24-hour notice. He had only worked for five days.

"Effectively, he had rejected the offer, and he is not a member of the Health Ministry," he said.