Johor, Malaysia: The attack on the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor, which left two police officers and the attacker dead, shocked the country.
As Malaysians are yet to come out of the shock following this violent incident. Meanwhile, after the order from the Johor Fatwa Committee, the attacker’s body was buried separately in a far corner of the Kampung Sungai Tiram Muslim cemetery.
The Johor Fatwa Committee had decided that the burial of the suspect’s body could only take place at the family home or at the hospital where his body was transferred as opposed to being conducted at a mosque or surau, media reports said.
The decision on the suspect’s remains was a show of condemnation for his actions, especially for the slaying of two policemen, the committee said.
“The committee urges the public not to get involved or show sympathy towards the suspect for his actions,” it said in a statement.
Facebook users discussed this development on the forum ‘Meanwhile in Malaysia’ on Facebook. Here are some comments.
One netizen expressed displeasure with the post, but was met with numerous counterarguments claiming that this was the correct procedure for performing the last rites, as described by the relevant religious authorities. Some showed their displeasure by asking the commentator if she was known to the deceased.
Some users opined that the same could meted out to extremist politicians whose words and behavior may have “inspired” the attack or to politicians to remind others not to accept bribes.
Some suggested it was a public humiliation by revealing the attacker’s identity.
It appears that one comment reflects the thoughts of many Malaysians, as the attacker’s motives remain unclear.
Some expressed the sentiment of many citizens by stating that the decree was too good for the attacker.
One user commented about how the families of the two police victims were waiting for them to return home after their shift that fateful night. “Young lives have been taken; families ruined – please think before acting” was the underlying message.
Going by the comments, many supported the decree, believing that the attacker’s actions should not be sanctified under the pretext of religion.
Some called for even more drastic “public reminders”; Needless to say, these proposals will neither bring back the two fallen police officers nor calm an alarmed populace.
ALSO READ: Ulu Tiram attack- How it unfolded? A timeline of the tragedy
