Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol

Public advised to avoid comments that could inflame religion, race and royalty

KUALA LUMPUR — Two people have been arrested in Malaysia after a viral video showing a man wearing a headscarf while drinking alcohol at a hair salon triggered religious sensitivities in the Muslim-majority country.

The 28-second clip widely shared across social media showed a man wearing a green headscarf drinking a can of beer, prompting public anger over what many viewed as a mockery of Islamic practices.

Alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam, and the headscarf is commonly associated with Muslim women.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M Kumar said the man, 24, and a 22-year-old woman were detained in Subang Jaya on Tuesday afternoon to assist with investigations.

“Preliminary investigations found that the individual wearing the headscarf and consuming alcoholic beverages was a man,” Kumar said in a statement late on Wednesday.

The case is being investigated for actions causing “disharmony or hostility on religious grounds” as well as breaching laws on dissemination of negative content online.

Kumar warned that police would act firmly against anyone who deliberately disrespected religious sensitivities or stoked tension in a multi-faith society. He also urged the public to avoid comments that could inflame so-called 3R issues, referring to religion, race and royalty.

Religion is a highly charged issue in Malaysia, where about 60% of the population are Malay Muslims. The public debate has tilted towards greater conservatism in recent years, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government seeking to shore up support among the electoral base.

The 3R issues are also tightly policed in the country and frequently trigger swift legal and political responses when controversies erupt.

The salon, LMD Hairlounge Sunway Geo issued a public apology on Wednesday, saying the incident occurred on the night of Dec 21, and involved two staff members who had since been dismissed.

“We take this matter very seriously,” the management said, adding that the employees were terminated the following day and that the company would fully cooperate with police investigations.

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Online reaction was swift and heated, with social media users from different religious backgrounds condemning the video and questioning the intent behind it.

One user called for those involved to “apologise publicly and face legal action”.

Another questioned whether the act was deliberate provocation, calling for “a heavy punishment” if so. “Is he really Muslim or just acting as one to embarrass Islam? No one could be that foolish to drink alcohol openly in public,” the post said.

The episode follows a string of recent controversies involving alcohol and public figures.

In October, Malaysia state-energy Petronas chief executive Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz faced criticism at home after appearing in a champagne-spraying celebration at the Singapore Grand Prix.

A few days earlier, Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing was accused by critics of disrespecting Malay-Muslim sensibilities after alcohol was served at a tourism gala dinner.