A 19-year-old man in Malaysia continued sleeping even as religious enforcement officers raided a hotel room he had allegedly shared with a 26-year-old woman in the early hours of the morning.
According to the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ), officers carried out the inspection at a hotel in Mersing at about 1am.
Source: Penguatkuasa JAINJ 2025 on Facebook
The pair, who are not married and not related, were found in the same room — an offence under state khalwat (close proximity) laws.
When officers knocked on the door, the woman — dressed in a T-shirt and long trousers without a headscarf — opened it.
Inside, the man was found on the bed, shirtless and wearing only shorts, fast asleep.
Source: pixelshot on Canva, for illustration purposes only
Despite the commotion, he remained unresponsive until officers shook him awake.
JAINJ later said he might have been “extremely tired” and even asked him to wash his face to ensure he realised he was not dreaming.
Investigations revealed that the two worked at the same shop.
On the night of the raid, they had finished work late after serving many customers. As their homes were far and it was drizzling, they decided to stay at the hotel.
The woman had taken the room, and the man claimed he only entered to charge his phone, which had run out of battery after heavy TikTok use that day.
He said he fell asleep while waiting for it to recharge.
Source: SimonSkafar on Canva, for illustration purposes only
Regardless of their explanation, officers detained the pair for being together in the hotel room without a marital relationship.
If convicted of khalwat, the offence carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of RM3,000 (approximately S$920), or both.
Also read: Man trespasses into women-only train cabin in Malaysia, dares passengers to call police
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Featured image adapted from Penguatkuasa JAINJ 2025 on Facebook and pixelshot on Canva, for illustration purposes only.