Authorities in Johor Bahru are investigating an incident where a non-Muslim student was allegedly assaulted by an older man for eating during the fasting hours of Ramadan.
The incident, which reportedly took place in a convenience store, came to light after the victim, identified as Elijah, shared his experience on social media platform X. In his post, he recounted being approached by a man who questioned him about his race before demanding to see his identification card.
Elijah claimed that after refusing to comply, the man became agitated upon learning that he was a non-Muslim eating during Ramadan. The situation escalated when the older man allegedly struck him multiple times.
READ MORE:Â UAE Authorities Issue Strong Warning Against Online Donation Scams During Ramadan
“He got angry that I was eating, even though I am not a Muslim and was minding my own business,” Elijah wrote. “He even hit me several times.”
A video attached to his post appeared to show the elderly man slapping the side of his head while instructing him to “speak properly.”
Elijah expressed gratitude to the man’s son for intervening and apologizing on his father’s behalf. However, he maintained that while he accepted the apology, he could not ignore what had happened.
His post quickly gained traction, with many social media users urging him to report the incident to the police, citing both physical and verbal harassment.
In response to the growing public concern, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang addressed the issue, confirming that law enforcement is investigating the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
