Two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang, early this morning.

The Star Online quoted Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi as saying that two men on a motorcycle threw the Molotov cocktails about 1.30am today.

Only one of the petrol bombs exploded while the other fell on the grass, he said.

This comes less than 24 hours after a controversial banner - with the words ‘Jesus is the son of Allah’ - was hung up outside the church on Sunday.

The church has denied any knowledge of the banner and has lodged a police report.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said 250 police personnel from Ipoh will be deployed to patrol churches and mosques in the state.
 
"Penang CPO told me this," he said this afternoon.
 
Assumption Church parish priest Father Dominic Santhiyagu said the Penang Bishop will issue a statement tomorrow.

'Remain calm'

Lim appealed for all quarters to remain calm and not to react to provocation of any kind.

 

He added that he was in constant contact with Abdul Rahim to boost security in the state.

 

Accompanying Lim were all the state executive councillors including Deputy Chief Ministers Rashid Hasnon and P Ramasamy ( left ), to show solidarity.

 

"This is a serious matter. The banners seems to have been systematically done, and seems to be made by the same group. We do not know who they are, as no one has claimed responsibility," he said, when visiting the church at 2pm today.

 

"The important task for us to do now is to ensure public order and security. There must not be any enmity between Muslims and Christians. We must all stay united," he added.

 

Lim urged people not to fall into the trap of "extremist and barbaric" groups who want to threaten the racial and religious harmony of the state.

 

He added that those who witnessed anything suspicious to contact the police immediately.

On the state helping out with CCTVS in churches and mosques, Lim said his administration will look into the matter later, especially in determining more locations to install them.

 

'First time church attacked'

Parish priest Father Dominic Santhiyagu said that Penang Bishop Sebastian Francis will be issuing a statement tomorrow on the matter.

 

Santhiyagu said this this is the first time the church was attacked.

 

"I was informed by our security guard at 1.23am and called police who came immediately," he told reporters at the church site.

 

"We have lodged three police reports on the banner and the Molotov cocktail," he added.

 

On the 'Jesus is Allah's son' banner, the priest said it was found hung outside the gate which faces Love Lane.

 

Santhiyagu, however, expressed gratitude to Lim and the other excos for visiting the church at this point of time.

 

The Molotov cocktail had hit the the shrine, shattering the bottle, and pieces of it are still on the grass around the shrine of the Virgin Mary.

 

It is learnt that the CCTV along Muntri Street and Penang Road nearby the church captured the images of two men on a motorbike during the time.

 

Earlier, Abdul Rahim said 10 police reports have been lodged - nine on banners found and one on the Molotov cocktail.

Abdul Rahim added that the police are probing the case under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief related to fire.

 

Before Lim arrived, an unknown man, dressed in black, wearing a hood and dark sunglasses came into the church compound.

 

He stopped and stared at Ramasamy who was already there. The man then went near the shrine, shouting some slogans on price hikes.

 

Police carted the man away, few moments after Lim arrived.