The remains of the two dead policemen from the Ulu Tiram police station attack laid at a prayer ceremony held at the Tunku Laksmana Abdul Jalil Mosque at the Johor police headquarters yesterday. Among those at the event were Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. -NSTP/NUR AISYAH MAZALAN
The remains of the two dead policemen from the Ulu Tiram police station attack laid at a prayer ceremony held at the Tunku Laksmana Abdul Jalil Mosque at the Johor police headquarters yesterday. Among those at the event were Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. -NSTP/NUR AISYAH MAZALAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has advised all parties to stop speculating on the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station.

He said such speculations could affect investment and the tourism industry, highlighting Johor's status as a top investment destination and a key gateway for tourists.

"It is a shocking incident, but at the same time, there is no need for us to make our own conclusions.

"Do not create any speculation that could scare away future investment and tourists from coming into our country.

"If the police say it has nothing to do with Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), then this is what we need to believe.

"I also believed in the wisdom of our enforcement agencies in conducting investigations on the matter, so we leave it to them," he was quoted as saying.

Ahmad said this after the opening of the Digital Construction Competency Skill Centre at the southern region Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM), Johor Baru, today.

Ahmad who is an Umno supreme council member also advised all party members to exercise caution in their statements regarding the incident.

"Speculation will only make things worse, so I urge all Umno members to avoid being involved in this; we want people, especially investors and tourists, to come into our state," he said.

Two policemen were killed, and another injured, after a masked intruder stormed the Ulu Tiram police station, Johor Baru in the pre-dawn attack.

The dead are Constable Muhamad Shafiq Ahmad Said, 24, and Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22.

The suspect was initially believed to be linked to the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah due to his father suspected to have a link to the militant group.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain yesterday confirmed that the suspect was not a JI member.