No robbery, surau was never utilised says keeper

A surau located at a Muslim cemetary in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya was not robbed, confirmed a graveyard keeper today.

The keeper who declined to be named denied that a robbery had taken place, contrary to Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San's claim yesterday.

He explained to Malaysiakinithat the surau had never been utilised since it was built in 2004.

“Nothing was stolen since there was nothing inside in the first place,” he said.

The surau was endowed by one of the residents there whose wife was buried at the cemetery prior to 2004.

A check by Malaysiakini found the surau to be completely bare with the exception of art pieces bearing the name Allah and Muhammad. One of the doors was unhinged while the padlock was broken.

When contacted, Lau said he was told of the alleged robbery by another graveyard keeper named Suppiah.

“My statement was based on what he had told me and we have taken a photo of the door of the surau (reportedly) damaged and broken into,” he said.

Lau yesterday said the wooden door of the surau had been forced open and all items inside stolen.

The DAP assemblyperson learned about the alleged incident when he went to the Christian cemetery across from the surau to verify reports that the graves there had been vandalised.

At least 21 graves were found to be desecrated, with crosses and tombstones broken.