In thanking Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar for setting up the task force, the Penang Deputy Chief Minister II also said the state government would cooperate in any way possible to facilitate investigations.
Ramasamy said he was confident the task force, headed by state Deputy Police Chief A Thaiveegan, would yield good results.
“As the chairman of the Hindu Endowment Board and the deputy chief minister, I will extend my cooperation to the police.
“I think police should act swiftly to nab the criminals behind these despicable acts,” he said when contacted.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported Khalid as saying a task force would be set up to investigate the spate of Hindu temple desecrations hogging the headlines for the past two months.
He told the news portal police were concerned about the state of events, saying there would be no tolerance for those who disrespected the right to religious freedom.
“Vandalising places of worship is a serious offence and has the potential to cause religious unrest.
“I will not allow that to happen under my watch,” the nation’s top cop told Malaysiakini.
Khalid also said the incidents had nothing to do with extremist groups as there was no evidence of that.
Yesterday, the Sri Muneeswarar temple near the Tunku Kudin underpass here was broken into and three of its statues damaged.
In early June, two Hindu temples in the Penanti estate, Ara Kuda, east of Butterworth, were defiled by unknown individuals. The two incidents happened a few days apart.
On July 2, the Dewa Sri Mathuraiveeran Temple in Kampung Sungai Nibong Kechil, near Bayan Lepas, suffered a similar fate.
Two years ago, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple were also defiled, but police revealed that it was committed by a “mentally unsound” person.