Alleged khalwat: We'll let JAIP sort out its own mess, says MB Khalid

Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said his administration will leave the khalwat (close proximity) charges leveled against Badrulamin Bahron, the state information chief, to the religious authorities in Kuantan to resolve.

"We cannot get involved in this matter and we do not need any explanation from Dr Badrulamin," Khalid told reporters on Monday.

Badrulamin, a PKR supreme council member, is one a month-long leave until accusations against him have been investigated. He had gone to Kuantan for a party event and also to support the anti-Lynas campaign on Sunday.There, he was accused of the offense by the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (JAIP).

“The statement by the JAIP deputy director that I was detained while committing khalwat carries no truth at all. I believe this incident was a plan to trap and embarrass me,” Badrulamin had said.

Beaten up

According to a statement he issued to clarify the matter, a woman he knew had made a distress call to him on Friday, saying she wanted to run away from home as she “feared her safety”.

He said he had advised her against it but the woman and her child later showed up unexpectedly at 2am at the place where the PKR meeting was held. Because of the near hysterical state of the woman, Badrulamin decided to check her and the child into a hotel room.

“I’ve known both the husband and wife since over a year ago when the woman and her family accompanied my umrah delegation. The couple has been in contact with me often, seeking advice for their family troubles, including domestic violence. In my effort to help them, my wife and I have even visited their family in Rompin,” said Badrulamin.

Howver, at around 2.30am, the woman’s husband, flanked by over 20 unknown individuals “surrounded and attacked” him. The husband then “forcefully” dragged his wife and child away.

“The men who behaved like samsengs only stopped beating me when the authorities arrived and blocked them. With this explanation, I hope all parties would stop the accusations and slander against me. I will not hesitate to take legal action against any party that does so,” Badrulamin said.

Political tools

Indeed, the actions of several of the state Islamic authorities, which are Umno-linked, have moved beyond the boundaries of what many Muslims consider as appropriate to their assigned duties.

A recent example was the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), which was accused of being used by Umno, to create hatred amongst Christians against the Pakatan Rakyat state government. JAIS had carried out a controversial raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Centre, that sparked public outcry.

"Some have become the political tools of the Umno government and this is a most distressing development," Hatta Ramli, MP for Kuala Krai, told Malaysia Chronicle.

Malaysia Chronicle