JOHOR BARU: An increasing number of foreign workers are being caught committing khalwat (close proximity) in budget hotels here, Johor State Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) assistant director Mohd Hafiz Abdul Rahman said on Wednesday.
He said the foreigners, who work in the state’s industrial areas, treat budget hotels as “vice dens.”
"In contrast with the Islamic prohibition on gambling, drinking alcohol and fornication, the khalwat offence is the highest among (Muslim) foreigners (here)," he said.
Hafiz revealed that in a two-hour operation to combat vice activities at Permas Jaya and Seri Alam budget hotels on Tuesday, 12 men and 10 women, aged between 18 and 40, were nabbed for khalwat.
He said eight of the foreigners were from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. -- BERNAMA