bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Joseph Sipalan

A Malaysian minister on Monday issued a stern warning over threats to national unity during Ramadan, after the alleged assault of a non-Muslim man for eating in public during the Islamic fasting month.
Videos of the altercation went viral on Sunday, showing an elderly man wearing a black robe aggressively questioning the 21-year-old victim inside a convenience store.

In one of the videos, the victim was seen backing away as the man continued berating him.
The victim claimed that his assailant slapped him several times after he refused his demands to show his identity card to prove he was not a Muslim – and therefore breaking his fast.
Videos widely shared on social media did not show the alleged assault.

Kes di Family Mart Angsana Mall, Johor Bahru:
Saya hanya makan secara biasa dan pak cik tu tanya saya orang Cina ke tak. Saya jawab ya sebab itu soalan biasa. Lepas tu dia nak saya tunjukkan IC saya walaupun kita tak boleh tunjuk IC kepada orang yang tidak dikenali.
(Bebenang) pic.twitter.com/qgnAOPLYH1
— bingbingE656/Elijah 🇲🇾🍉 (@bingbinge656) March 16, 2025

The incident was a “provocation” that has no place in Malaysia’s multiracial society, Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang said on Monday.
“Such actions must be stopped immediately and cannot be allowed to spread in the country,” Aaron said in a statement on social media.
“I strongly condemn any form of violence, discrimination and prejudice that could destroy racial harmony.”
Public outrage over the perceived slide into heavy-handedness by authorities and devotees has been building since before Ramadan began in early March.
Several people were arrested for breaking their fast during raids on private spaces in Malacca state earlier this month, with critics accusing religious authorities of overreach while ignoring the plight of the poor and underprivileged.
In February, the government was forced to walk back a proposal to impose guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, which opponents – including those in government – said would stop Muslims from attending weddings and funerals.

Minister Aaron said the victim of the slap, whom he identified only by the name Elijah, had lodged a report with the police.
In the earlier post sharing the videos, the victim said the older man’s son intervened and “apologised on behalf of the man”.
“I accept the apology but I cannot let this thing go,” he added.
Culture clashes are an increasingly common feature of multiracial Malaysia.
Critics say they are driven by a resurgent Malay nationalist movement – with a strong social-media presence – that is tapping into deep-seated resentment among the Malay majority over the perceived economic dominance of the country’s Chinese and Indian ethnic minorities.
The alleged assault has drawn broad condemnation on Malaysian social media, with many agreeing that the assailant be subjected to the full brunt of the law for being “racist and violent”.
This uncle expects Chinese people to eat while performing a dragon dance so people know they are Chinese
Social-media user Yoiiijmie
“This uncle expects Chinese people to eat while performing a dragon dance so people know they are Chinese,” user Yoiiijmie wrote in response to Elijah’s post.
Others called out the sense of entitlement and hypocrisy among the so-called religious, drawing parallels with a recent case where a 39-year-old preacher was arrested for allegedly slapping a 17-year-old schoolboy until his nose broke over a traffic misunderstanding near a mosque in Selangor.
“Islam does not say to slap people at will. File a civil suit, demand compensation. These extremists are an embarrassment to the religion,” read a post on social media by one Abdul Rashid.


‘Ramadan slap’ in Malaysia goes viral as social media responds with satire

Malaysian ‘budgie smuggler’ caught on camera stuffing Labubu toys down his shorts

Spotlight on food waste in Malaysia as Ramadan bazaar trash becomes fashion

Call by Malaysia’s DAP for 2-term limit for prime minister draws PAS’ rebuke

Malaysia

Malaysian minister warns against extremism after non-Muslim assaulted for not fasting

Screengrab from Elijah’s social-media video showing his encounter with an elderly man in a black robe. Photo: X/bingbing656

A Malaysian mosque gives out rice porridge during Ramadan on March 7. Photo: AFP

Malaysian Muslims break their fast during Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur on March 2. Photo: Reuters

Japanese ex-adult star Rae Lil Black raises eyebrows as ‘Muslim convert’ in Malaysia

Japanese former adult film star Rae Lil Black has drawn both praise for her apparent embrace of Islam and scepticism over her past. Photos: Instagram / Facebook / Rae Lil Black


Rae Lil Black wearing traditional Muslim clothing in Kuala Lumpur. Photo:  Titkok/raelilblack.official

Sugar highs and waistline woes: Malaysia’s sweet tooth gets a Ramadan reality check

Sugary drinks sold at Putrajaya Ramadan bazaar in Malaysia. One in five Malaysians suffers from diabetes, according to health ministry statistics. Photo: Hadi Azmi

A Muslim family recites prayers before they break their fast during Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur on March 2. Photo: Reuters

Like most Ramadan bazaars, the one in Putrajaya is popular with Malaysians from all walks of life. Photo: Hadi Azmi

A Mixue shop in Shah Alam, Selangor. The Chinese chain has more than 300 stores across Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock

Cakes and local desserts sold at Putrajaya Ramadan bazaar. Doctors have urged Malaysians to be mindful of the dangers of consuming too much sugar. Photo: Hadi Azmi

Deep-fried foods at the Putrajaya Ramadan bazaar. Malaysia’s food culture is both a source of national pride and a frequent point of online contention. Photo: Hadi Azmi

One of the many stalls at Putrajaya Ramadan bazaar selling a variety of colourful sweet drinks. Sugar-laden delights have embedded themselves in the diets of many Malaysians. Photo: Hadi Azmi

Doctors warn of hidden perils of Malaysia’s sweet tooth during Ramadan

A Muslim family recites prayers before they break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 2. Photo: Reuters

Malaysian food content creator Khairul Amin Kamarulzaman – better known as Khairulaming – shares drink recipes for Ramadan. Photo: Instagram/khairulaming

Malaysian food content creator Che Sayang shares a recipe for green tea float during Ramadan. Photo: X/@CheSayang_

Malaysian housewives cook up digital gold – with love, labour and live-streams

Malaysian housewife-turned-TikTok creator Ezzah Haris is known for her humorous storytelling in the Kedah dialect. Photo: TikTok/ezzah-haris

A mee goreng dish prepared by Malaysian TikTok creator Wanwa.house. Photo:  TikTok/wanwa.house

Fatihah Hanapi has amassed more than half a million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Photo: TikTok/snfkitchen

Nurkhairunnisa, 29, began posting videos of domestic tasks and now specialises in food content. Photo: Handout

This Week in Asia

Lifestyle & Culture

The victim claimed the assailant slapped him several times after he refused to show his identity card to prove he was not a Muslim


The victim claimed the assailant slapped him several times after he refused to show his identity card to prove he was not a Muslim.


Ramadan

Malaysian politics

Religion

Social media