FEB 2 — Twice this week, a pig’s head has been found outside a mosque in the Klang Valley.

On Tuesday, it was a mosque in Rawang. Today, a mosque in Sentul. There can be no other reason than to provoke a religious clash in a country that professes to be an Islamic nation.

It isn’t something that no Malaysian knows. And if anything, all Malaysians know better than to transgress on the religious sensitivities of each other’s faith, cultural faux pas notwithstanding. There is that much mutual respect in Malaysia although most politicians call it mutual tolerance.

It says something for the temperament of Malaysians that nothing untoward has happened since the discovery of the pig heads in Rawang and Sentul, just like when the Hindus did not react violently when a group of people marched with a cow’s head in Shah Alam two years ago.

But this kind of blatant provocation must stop soon. There appears to be a strategy to stoke a racial and religious clash for reasons only known to those who have put the pig heads in front of the mosques. And Malaysians must ensure that such a clash does not happen.

This can only happen if those with information about these miscreants inform the police and stop any more of such acts. Because this country doesn’t need such provocation especially when talk of election is in the air and some speak of racial entitlements. It will just be the tinderbox of another incident to engulf a nation where most wear their faiths on their sleeves.

We need to show those who try to provoke such a clash that Malaysians will not fall for their tricks. We need to show that we have moved beyond spoiling for a fight no matter the cause. The bigger cause to fight for is a better Malaysia.

A Malaysia where people who cause mischief will be punished, where the vast majority are secure enough to know that their fellow citizens will not commit such irresponsible acts to put its people in jeopardy of violence and death.

We need to unite against religious desecration. We need to unite and respect each other’s faiths. And we need to do that now. Not when it’s too late and someone decides to take revenge for such acts.

So, help the police. Keep the peace. And if you see anyone who commits such acts, tell the police. We don’t need anyone who wants to undermine our faith and our unity.