A CRIB placed outside St Michael’s Church in Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Ipoh, was razed early yesterday, a day before the church celebrated the feast of its patron saint.

Ipoh police chief Assistant Commissioner Sum Chang Keong said police were investigating the case to ascertain if there was foul play involved.

Police have questioned several witnesses, including the parish priest.

They are awaiting a report from the Fire and Rescue Department on the cause of the blaze.

The crib was built two years ago by members of the Orang Asli community who attend the church.

It is used during the Christmas season, when church authorities place statues inside to signify the birth of Christ.

At the time of the fire yesterday, the crib was empty.

A church leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Malaysian Insight that the fire was spotted about 4am.

He said the crib was a wooden structure with an attap roof, built to show how the Orang Asli lived.

“It was their gift to the church two years ago.”

He declined to comment on the cause of the fire, only saying the structure was outside church grounds.

The church leader added that the incident did not affect the celebrations this morning.

A total of 10 churches and a few mosques have been attacked or vandalised since the December 31, 2009, court decision on the use of the word “Allah” in Catholic newsletter Herald.

Three churches in Kuala Lumpur were subject to arson attacks during that period. One suffered considerable damage.

Witnesses saw two individuals throwing a petrol bomb into the Metro Tabernacle Church in Taman Melawati, Selangor.

The two were later caught and charged.

Police have stepped up security at all churches after that incident.

A year later, police thwarted an attack at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jalan Othman, Petaling Jaya.

Similar incidents were also reported at the All Saints’ Church in Taiping, Perak, and a Catholic school, where police found Molotov cocktails on the grounds.

Black paint was also thrown at the Malacca Baptist Church in Durian Daun. – October 1, 2017.