K-Pop concert: Jawi all bark, no bite

Despite threats to arrest the three Muslim girls who behaved inappropriately at a concert, Jawi now admits they have no legal standing.

KUALA LUMPUR: After lashing out at three Muslim girls for indecent behaviour at a K-Pop concert including threats to arrest the trio if they did not surrender themselves at the Jawi office, its director now admits the Islamic body does not have the legal power to do it.

Speaking to the Malay Mail Online, Jawi director Paimuzi Yahya admitted there was nothing they could do, even though none of the three had shown up at the Jawi office during the one week grace period they were given.

“There is nothing we (JAWI) can do. Nothing.

“If they turn up, we can give them advice. But if they don’t, and for now, they have not turned up, we cannot do anything,” he said.

Paimuzi also said that since the three had not come forward to assist the department in their investigations, the department could only guess that they were advised otherwise by people around them.

“They have not come here, so we feel that perhaps they (the girls) have been advised by other people.”

Jawi issued the appeal to the three to surrender themselves at their offices, on the orders of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

The three are being investigated for public indecency and outraging Muslims, under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997, that allows for a fine of up to RM1,000 and imprisonment of no more than six months upon conviction.

The tudung-wearing girls became the centre of a controversy after a three-minute video was posted on social media showing the Korean pop band B1A4 hugging the girls from behind and kissing one on her forehead.

The event organisers have expressed outrage over the unethical journalism that led to the incident being blown out of proportion and have refused to reveal the identities of the three girls to protect their privacy.