KUALA LUMPUR: Fire and Rescue Department officers are merely doing their jobs and should be respected, said Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The Housing and Local Government minister appeared visibly angry and disappointed following Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station's Emergency Response System's (EMRS) officer who was attacked by rioters at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, early this morning.
Regretting what happened, she said the rioters went overboard as the uniformed officer was merely carrying out his duties of putting out fires.
"This behaviour must stop because they are uniformed civil servants, there must a sense of respect from Malaysians for uniformed civil servants.
"Fire and Rescue officers are much needed in whatever emergency situations.
"As it is they don't receive enough recognition, now they are not respected as they get beaten up while on duty," Zuraida said, expressing hope that the police would conduct a thorough investigation so action could be taken against those involved.
In the 1am incident, the officer, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, 24, and fellow personnel had arrived at the scene to douse a car which had been torched by rioters when he was dragged out of his EMRS van and beaten up by a portion of the 2,000 people who had assembled at the temple.
According to a Selangor Fire and Rescue Department spokesman earlier today, Muhammad Adib suffered major internal injuries and bone fractures and is unconscious.
He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) this morning.
The attack also resulted in damages to an EMRS van and a fire engine.
Commenting further, Zuraida said the dispute involving the land the temple sits on should have been settled earlier.
She said the failure of those responsible to solve the matter was among the factors that contributed to the violent episodes.
"There should have been a discussion and round-table talk with those involved, call a mediator to find the best solution.
"I hope this incident serves as a lesson to all to be brave in facing problems and to solve matters before it becomes too late," she said.