Trader finds several torn Quran pages in aluminium container

The trader, Mohd Fauzi Sharif, 53, said he was told about the incident by an unidentified man, in his 30s, at 9.30am.

He said he was led by the man to the scene to see for himself torn pages of the Quran which were believed to have been burned in the container, before lodging reports with the police and the Kedah Islamic Religious Department.

"I saw torn pages of the quran on the cover of the container which was used to burn paper. I also saw several more torn quran pages inside the container which also contained ashes," he told reporters at the scene here, today.

Meanwhile, State Religious, Indian and Siamese Community Affairs, Human Resource and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid urged the police to investigate the matter.

"I am disappointed the quran is treated in such a manner when there is a correct method to dispose off the Quran," he said when contacted.

He urged the public not to overreact and to keep calm while waiting for the police investigation to be carried out to identify the culprit.

Meanwhile, Kedah police urged the public to be patient while investigation was conducted on the case.

Kedah acting police chief Datuk Zakaria Yusof said police suspected the person who burned the quran had mental problems and hoped the issue would not be blown out of proportion which could result in communal misunderstanding.

"If it was done with malicious intention we will take action under Section 298A of the Penal Code, for committing an act that could lead to disintegration of harmony and unity, feeling of dissatisfaction, prejudice based on religion, which carries a prison sentence of two to five years," he told reporters here, today.