Elderly widower, widow arrested for khalwat at midnight

MELAKA - An elderly couple, a widower and a widow both nearly 70 years of age, were nabbed by the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (Jaim) on suspicion of khalwat at a house in Klebang here in the early hours of Saturday.

According to sources, the operation by Jaim's Religious Enforcement Officers (PPA) at around midnight was carried out following a complaint and tip-off from a member of the public.

During the inspection, the 68-year-old self-employed man and the 66-year-old unemployed woman told officers they were in the process of applying to get married.

However, the couple, each previously married, were taken to the Jaim office for documentation and to assist in further investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 53 of the Melaka Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1991, which relates to the offence of cohabitation or khalwat that gives rise to suspicion.

Jaim said the enforcement action was not intended to shame any individual, but was an effort to educate the public on the boundaries of social interaction and the importance of complying with syariah law.