KUALA LUMPUR – Cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat’s claims of sexual assault by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has caught international attention, but the state religious body will not be responding to her allegations.
A Jais spokesman confirmed to The Vibes that the matter was raised and discussed in a meeting involving department officials, where they decided that they will not be issuing any comment.
Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad was among those present at yesterday’s meeting.
“We have discussed with the director yesterday. We have no new official comment to make for now.
“Our official statement is that we will not be responding (to the matter). If we have anything new to say, we will contact you,” he told The Vibes today.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter said Jais’ decision not to comment on Nur Sajat’s latest allegations is because the issue is already being investigated by the police.
“The matter raised by Nur Sajat is an old issue. We have even investigated the matter. But we will allow the police to decide (on any action),” he said on condition of anonymity.
When asked if Jais has taken any action on its own against the officers supposedly involved, the source said: “No, (Jais) will leave it to the cops.”
Nur Sajat – currently seeking asylum in Australia – told the New York Times in an interview that she was sexually assaulted while under Jais detention in January, with officers touching her private parts.
The prominent entrepreneur alleged that she was also physically assaulted and placed overnight in a male detention facility.
Her mother reportedly witnessed the assault and confronted an officer, who noted that it is acceptable since Nur Sajat “was a man”.
Nur Sajat then lodged a police report with the officers in question called in for investigation, but there has been no update on the matter so far.
She was charged earlier this year after attending a 2018 religious event dressed in women’s clothes, and faces up to three years in jail or a fine, if convicted.
Additionally facing separate charges of obstructing and threatening a public servant, which the 36-year-old denies, she went into hiding in Thailand.
Last month, she was arrested by Thai authorities over an invalid passport, but later released on bail.
She has since moved to Australia, where she claims to feel “safe, happy and free” after being intimidated and abused in Malaysia. – The Vibes, October 21, 2021
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