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Joseph Sipalan

An elderly Malaysian man claimed trial on Wednesday to a charge of slapping a non-Muslim man for eating during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Abdul Razak Ismail, 65, a retired civil servant, was charged with voluntarily causing hurt for assaulting an ethnic Chinese man during a confrontation at a shopping centre convenience store in southern Johor state on Sunday.
Videos of an elderly man in a black robe berating Elijah Ling, 21, for eating in public went viral, adding to the brewing public outrage over the perceived surge in religious policing by both authorities and devotees during the annual fasting month, which started in early March.
Initially, Abdul Razak was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on Wednesday morning despite pleading guilty to the charge.

But hours later the attorney general’s chambers (AGC) said it had resolved a “technical issue” related to the initial charge, paving the way for prosecutors to bring the suspect back before the court.
The AGC did not say what was problematic with the initial charge.
“The Attorney General’s Chambers is committed to ensuring all parties receive appropriate justice in line with the law,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.
Abdul Razak could face up to one year in jail, a 2,000 ringgit (US$455) fine or both if convicted.
In his earlier plea, the suspect had disputed the facts of the case, arguing that he did not hit the victim so hard that he would have suffered bruises to his cheek.
‘Vicious’ behaviour
The incident has drawn condemnation, including from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who on Wednesday called for an end to actions that “go against the spirit of national unity and harmony”.
Anwar’s office said the prime minister saw no place for such “vicious” behaviour, which goes against the tenets of Islam and could threaten peace and harmony.
“The prime minister believes that issues touching on religious, communal and racial sensitivities can be avoided if all parties abide by and are committed to practising the principle of mutual respect to build a civilised nation,” Anwar’s senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said in a daily briefing broadcast over social media.
The videos posted by the victim on social media on Sunday showed him being scolded for eating in public.
Ling claimed that his assailant demanded he show his identity card to prove he was not a Muslim – and therefore breaking his fast. When he refused, the man slapped him, he said.
Videos widely shared on social media did not show the alleged assault.
Johor police on Monday said the victim, who lodged a police report on Sunday after the altercation, claimed that he had been slapped twice by an unknown man.


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Malaysian retiree claims trial to slapping non-Muslim for eating during Ramadan

In this screengrab from a social-media video, a man in a black robe is seen confronting the 21-year-old victim. Photo: Handout

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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

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The 65-year-old initially pleaded guilty but contested some of facts so the judge rejected his plea


The 65-year-old initially pleaded guilty but contested some of facts so the judge rejected his plea.


Malaysian retiree claims trial to slapping non-Muslim for eating during Ramadan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 65-year-old initially pleaded guilty but contested some of facts so the judge rejected his plea

The 65-year-old initially pleaded guilty but contested some of facts so the judge rejected his plea