Khalwat, Tangkap Basah & The Politicians
A Kadir Jasin
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IF one lives long enough and is observant, he or she isbound to come across a similar incident or hear a similar story more than once.Over time, the incident or story becomes familiar.
So,when I read the story of one Dr Badrul Amin Baharom being allegedly caught inclose proximity – better known in the Malaysian syariah parlance as "khalwat"and the Malay language as "tangkap basah" - it reminded me of a similar storythat took place some 15 years ago.
Forthose unfamiliar with "tangkap basah", it literally means being caught whilebeing wet.
Ofcourse, like all macho and self-righteous Muslim politicians accused of khawat,Dr Badrul Amin vehemently denied it.
Onlya village yokel would own up when caught. He admitted to committing the khalwateither out of fear of being beaten to pulp or because he wanted to marry hiskhalwat partner quickly and cheaply.
ButDr Badrul Amin is no country yokel. He is a member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat'ssupreme council and the Selangor government information chief. He was a formerlaw lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia and has alwaysheld the moral high ground.
Buta few nights ago in Kuantan, he was accused of committing khalwat with a28-year old married woman. They were "caught wet" b! y the wo man's husband andhis friends.
Whatis similar and familiar about Dr Badul Amin's story and the story of 15 yearsago was the reason for being in the khalwat situation.
Theywere both being good macho men trying to help married women in distress – a sortof knight in shining armour.
Indenying the "tangkap basah" allegation, Dr Badrul Amin was reported saying that"he was merely helping a woman who was facing domestic problems."
Likethe story I heard 15 years ago, the venue for helping the dame in distress wasnot a mosque or a surau. It was not even at the office of the party's complaintbureau or the service centre of a wakil rakyat. Instead, the allegedly attemptto "save the mosque" took place in a hotel room. The Malays often refer tomarriage as building a mosque.
Thestory of 15 years ago was told to me (and several other media editors) by theaccused person himself. However, unlike Dr Badrul Amin, this high-rankingnational politician was not accused of khalwat by any person or stateauthority. He was accused of having an affair or something of that sort with ahousewife. His accuser was a woman who is related to a distressed housewife.
Hetoo did not try to solve the woman's alleged marriage problem at a mosque, hisown official residence or office. He went to a posh condominium. Then, thenumber of such establishments was small and could be easily tracked down.
Politiciansvery often talk about transparency and decency. The most transparent way ofsolving problems and handling complaints, including marital ones, is MCA PublicComplains Bureau way.
Thebureau's facilitator, (Datuk) Michael Chong is so well known that the bureau'sclientele cuts across religious, racial and political divides.
Rendezvousin a hotel room and a condominium clubhouse is not the best way for politiciansto solve marital problems of distressed housewives.
Still,we must give credit to the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Government for swiftlyasking Dr Bardul Amin to go on leave for a month.
"Wehope the leave will be used (by Dr Badrulamin) to focus on efforts to clear hisname," the Menteri Besar's office said a statement.
ButDr Badrul Amin does not have to worry too much. Unlike in the West, wherepoliticians are forced to resign because of sexual improprieties, in Malaysia,politicians accused of such offences thrive.
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