[UPDATED] Former minister arrested for khalwat

SHAH ALAM: A former minister who is also a senior political leader was arrested by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on suspicion of khalwat in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Photographs and video clips showing the 44-year-old politician and a woman, believed to be the founder of a non-governmental organisation, being escorted into a van went viral on social media.

Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad confirmed that an arrest involving a public figure over an alleged khalwat offence was made in Petaling Jaya about 6pm yesterday.

"Two individuals were detained to assist in investigations into an alleged offence under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995.

"If convicted, offenders may be fined up to RM3,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.

"In this regard, Jais advises Muslims against humiliating any individual by making them the subject of speculation, debate or slander in any form," he said in a statement today.

Earlier, a news portal reported that a team of five Jais enforcement officers arrived at and entered a residence at the location.

At the time of the raid, the senior political leader and the woman were inside the house.

Both individuals were taken to the Jais office here for documentation.