CHURCHES in Malaysia have been told to be on alert and cooperate with the police ahead of this weekend’s mass services, a week after the Sri Lanka Easter carnage that saw suicide bombers attacking churches and hotels on the island nation.

Advisories to step up security have been issued as Malaysian church leaders seek to address unease among Christians after more than 250 people, including 45 children were killed in Sri Lanka. Some 500 injured are still in hospitals.

Circulars were sent out to several ecclesial communities in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, notifying churchgoers of precautionary measures they should take.

Churches were told to open their gates only for mass or worship sessions and suspicious packages or individuals are to be immediately reported to church administrators.

Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) general-secretary Reverend Hermen Shastri said he has reached out to the police for a dialogue session.

“I hope it is forthcoming. Churches have taken action and the police appear sensitive to security concerns,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“The Catholic Church and CCM have alerted the congregation to be extra careful and to cooperate with police in maintaining the safety of religious places.

“People can’t take anything for granted. The initiative has to be taken by those in their own places of worship and there must be cooperation with law enforcement officers, who may operate in uniform or in plainclothes.”

Following the Sri Lanka bombings, acting Deputy Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador told The Malaysian Insight that Malaysia has ramped up the security level at places of worship. 

The security level was initially increased after a lone gunman last month killed 50 worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, but the level went up another notch on following the attacks in Sri Lanka, he said.

Meanwhile, a notice issued by the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur yesterday cited Archbishop Julian Leow as asking priests to take “additional precautionary measures” to safeguard places of worship “against any untoward incidents”.

“In the aftermath of the abominable killing of hundreds of innocent people worshipping in churches and guests in several hotels in Sri Lanka, and with many others injured, there has been rising concern about the security procedures and situation in our own local parishes.”

The notice, signed by the archdiocese chancellor Reverend Michael Chua, said a Catholic representative, Monsignor Leonard Lexson, will be meeting the police for further direction. 

Chua has urged parishioners to remain calm and “not allow fear to prevent us from exercising our duty and right to worship in our churches”.

Leow, who is currently not in Malaysia, could not be reached for comment. 

There were no Malaysians among the fatalities in the Sri Lanka attacks that the Islamic State had claimed responsibility. – April 27, 2019