BATU PAHAT: Police are looking into the cause of two back-to-back fires that took place at a surau and mosque in Sri Medan here.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Ismail Dollah said the fire partly damaged Surau Ar Nur Parit Bangas at around 10pm on Monday (Jan 15).

“A local resident saw the blaze while passing by the area and alerted other residents nearby for help.

“They managed to put out the fire in about 15mins,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 16).

The surau's carpet, two air-conditioning units, furniture and electrical wiring were torched, he said.

ACP Ismail said this was the second fire involving a place of worship in Sri Medan in two days.

On Sunday (Jan 14), a fire broke out at the Kampung Parit Simis mosque in Sri Medan at around 10.50pm.

He added that a resident, who was visiting the mosque at the time, noticed the fire and alerted his friends.

“Other residents nearby also rushed to help put out the fire but the blaze had destroyed parts of the mosque including the carpeting, prayer mats, air-conditioners and pulpit,” he said.

Police and Fire and Rescue Department investigations are ongoing to find the cause of the fire and determine whether there were criminal elements involved, he added.

Both cases are investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire.

Those with related information are urged to head to the nearest police station or call the Johor police hotline at 07-2212 999.

Meanwhile, state Islamic Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said while the two incidents were surprising, he was thankful that nobody was hurt in the fire.

“I hope that justice will be served if there were any criminal elements involved.

“If the cause of the fire was due to the electrical wiring, I will ensure that all mosques and surau in Johor are checked immediately to prevent similar incidents from happening,” he said, adding that he would also visit the two locations on Tuesday afternoon and help with the clean-up.