Former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said arrest warrants against the Muslim girls who had hugged K-Pop boyband B1A4 will “traumatise” them.

"Jawi seeking arrest warrant against the young girls in K-pop? That should traumatise them for the rest of their lives," she tweeted today.

The Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) had said that it will apply for arrest warrants should the Muslim girls fail to cooperate in the investigations.

Jawi director Paimuzi Yahya said the girls are given a week from today to give their statements to the body, Utusan Malaysia reported today.

Paimuzi added that the case would be presented in court, and that any punishment or fine would be decided after the hearing is completed.

'Public indecency'

Jawi is investigating the girls for public indecency under Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act.

Meanwhile, Sisters in Islam (SIS) on its Facebook page today said one should always act “within the limitations of one's jurisdiction as to not unconstitutionally trespass on federal powers”.

“The unduly broad provision of Section 29 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act could be open to abuse of arbitrary and selective enforcement,” SIS noted.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said Jawi should stop harassing the girls and expressed hope that the girls' parents would fight "these Jawi busybodies in court".

"We must oppose moral policing at all costs. Fascism takes root when people show sign of fear," said Zaid in his tweet.

He also questioned the absence of Jawi during Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's concert.

"Where was Jawi during Shah Rukh Khan's concert? There were also hugging, among others, but because there were also VVIPs in attendance, no action was taken."

Singer cum actress Adibah Noor also said she had seen women kissing local male artistes before.

"Girls influenced by outside elements until they forget their Muslim identity? Oh please. I've seen wives and aunties fondling and kissing local male artistes," she tweeted.

Human rights activist V Gayathry expressed her disbelief on Twitter over the arrest warrants, asking if Jawi “had nothing better to do”.

Seriously?! #Jawi wants arrest warrants against the K-pop fans? Korang takde kerja lain ke? #Malaysia

— Gayathry V (@gayathry) January 14, 2015

A video of the K-Pop group hugging the girls was uploaded on YouTube by RajaLawak.com last Saturday, which had then been reproduced by Sukan Star TV’s Facebook page.

 

The video was titled, 'Malay girls molested on stage by Kpop B1A4'.

 

In the video, members of the K-Pop group were seen interacting with tudung-clad girls and hugging them on stage. A band member also kissed one of the girls on the forehead.

Although the girls appeared nervous, some reciprocated by hugging the band members back.