"The act of vandalism has indeed hurt the sentiments of Muslims. However, the people should not be provoked by the acts of the perpetrator, who reportedly lives (near the 'musholla')," he emphasized here on Wednesday while speaking in connection with the incident that triggered a public outcry.
In this case, Syamsuddin has urged police investigators to expose the perpetrator's motives behind committing vandalism by smearing anti-Islamic remarks over the mosque's walls.
The DPR deputy speaker urged the public, at large, to remain patient to receive the police's official information on this incident and confirm whether the perpetrator was influenced by the teachings of radicalism or was purely driven by his own thoughts.
Syamsuddin also urged the police to not be hasty in arriving at a conclusion as was observed in the knife attack on Indonesia's enigmatic Muslim preacher Sheikh Ali Jaber at Falahudin Mosque in Bandar Lampung City, Lampung, on Sept 13.
The attacker, named Alfin Andrian, 24, was said to have been ailing from mental disorders, he pointed out.
Syamsuddin is optimistic that such act of vandalism in a house of worship would not recur ahead of the convening of the simultaneous regional elections in December since it could be detrimental to the nation's unity in diversity. Related news: DPR directs police to find motive behind attack on Muslim preacher
Related news: Indonesia's charismatic ulema sheikh Ali Jaber survives knife attack
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
