OFFICIALS at a surau in Johor Baru have expressed regret over a fight that broke out after Friday prayers last week between a motorist and irate members of the congregation.

The incident – which led to four arrests – had also tarnished the image the Islam as a religion of love and peace, said a spokesman of the Surau Austin Perdana committee who read out a statement.

At the same time, residents who came to the surau today, one week after the incident, said they were relieved that the authorities and community leaders acted quickly to defuse any simmering tensions.

“The issue is settled. He (the motorist) has apologised, so we want to move on,” said a member of the congregation Ramli Mokhtar, 59, when met after Friday prayers.

The surau committee’s statement was read out over its speakers this afternoon, a day after reports quoted the motorist publicly apologising for disrupting prayers last week.

“We express our regret over the misunderstanding and violence that happened outside our surau after Friday prayers last week. The incident has tarnished the image of Islam as a religion of love and peace for all.

“We are disappointed with the insensitive actions of a certain party who had provoked members of the congregation to the point that it led to the altercation,” the spokesman said to devotees before the sermon at its Friday prayers.

“However, we ask our congregation to learn from this incident and not hold any grudges towards anyone, especially after he apologised to all Muslims yesterday.”

The spokesman also urged members of the congregation to park their cars in an orderly fashion around the surau to avoid blocking traffic.

“We also urge everyone to be compassionate towards others just as Islam teaches us that it is a blessing to humanity,” he said.

The spokesman declined to be interviewed by The Malaysian Insight but said the statement was the official stance of the surau’s committee.

The May 5 brawl, which was caught on video, started after members of the congregation confronted a motorist who had repeatedly honked outside the surau.

The motorist’s way had been blocked by vehicles parked haphazardly on the roadside. The turned out into a brawl in which the motorist and a few others were injured. Police have arrested four men involved in the incident.

On May 11, the motorist publicly apologised for his action after a meeting between him, the surau officials and the Johor Islamic Affairs Council.

The scene outside the surau today was calm and orderly as traffic police and more members of the People’s Volunteer Force (Rela) members were deployed to handle traffic.

A red banner was strung in front of the surau reminding devotees to park their cars properly and not obstruct traffic.

A Rela member, who said he was present at the incident, told The Malaysian Insight some residents had thanked him for trying to break up the fight.

He was one of three volunteers stationed at the surau last week.

“I was pulling people away from beating up the guy (motorist). When the motorist got away, I also stopped people from trying to overturn the guy’s car,” he said, declining to be identified. – May 12, 2017.