Ex-Malaysian minister Nik Nazmi admits lapse in judgment after ‘khalwat’ arrest

Former Malaysian minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has confirmed that he was one of two individuals detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) over an alleged khalwat case.

Nik Nazmi, who helms Parti Bersama Malaysia, said he was at a residence in Petaling Jaya on Thursday with a woman after they decided to continue a discussion about a project there.

“We had initially started the discussion with friends at a studio in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, before moving to Petaling Jaya to view some materials related to the project,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

“When Jais officials arrived, only the woman and I were there. I admit that this was an offence. Like what I told the officials, we did not engage in any improper conduct that could raise suspicion,” he added.

Khalwat is an Islamic moral offence under Malaysia’s state sharia laws for Muslims that prohibits unrelated men and women from being alone together in private or secluded places where sexual misconduct might be suspected.

Nik Nazmi also apologised to his wife, both their families and others affected by what he described as “a lapse in judgment”.

He also apologised to Bersama, saying he had disappointed the party’s members and supporters, and that he would accept whatever decision the party made.

The former Setiawangsa MP added that he would cooperate in all legal proceedings and urged all parties to respect the legal process and refrain from prolonging the matter through the media.

It was reported that a 44-year-old politician was detained at about 6pm on Thursday.

A source reportedly said a five-member Jais enforcement team entered the residence and found the politician and the woman, believed to be the founder of a non-governmental organisation, inside. Both were taken to the Jais office in Shah Alam for documentation purposes.

Jais director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said on Friday the two have been detained under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995.

Those convicted under the provision face a fine of up to 3,000 ringgit (US$730), imprisonment of up to two years, or both.