KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — KPJ Healthcare Berhad said it has suspended two employees over an online video showing the defacement of a Deepavali kolam at its Klang Specialist Hospital.
In a statement apologising over the incident on the firm’s premises, KPJ Healthcare said it did not condone such acts of vandalism, which was also not any reflection of the service provider’s culture, values or its practices.
The company then said it has lodged a police report on the matter and launched an internal investigation against both the suspended employees — the vandal and the other suspected of recording the video footage.
“The company would like to publicly apologise to all Malaysians, particularly to the Indian community, with regards to a video that has gone viral at one of our premises.
“As a healthcare service provider, KPJ Healthcare celebrates and upholds diversity and inclusion of the varied cultures in Malaysia,” it said in the statement while pledging full cooperation with the authorities.
Police earlier confirmed the duo went voluntarily to the district police headquarters to have their statements recorded at about 11pm yesterday.
They were subsequently arrested.
Both have been remanded for three days from today for investigation under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.
The video, showing a person wearing a face mask stepping all over a kolam, drew anger from Malaysian Hindus who marked Deepavali on October 24 this year.
The kolam is a regular feature in Indian households during auspicious celebrations and it is also to welcome Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth.
