Malaysian police hunt Hindu priest accused of molesting beauty queen
The victim, Miss Grand Malaysia 2021 Lishalliny Kanaran, bravely went public with her allegations despite claiming she was told not to
Malaysian police have launched a manhunt for a Hindu priest accused of molesting a beauty queen under the pretence of giving her a blessing at a temple.
The incident occurred last Saturday at Mariamman Temple in Sepang, a short distance from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It only came to light when the victim, actor and television host Lishalliny Kanaran, decided to go public with her allegations on Tuesday, sharing them on social media.
The suspect is believed to be an Indian national temporarily officiating at the temple during the absence of its resident priest, according to Sepang district police chief Norhizam Bahaman.
The suspect’s modus operandi was allegedly to sprinkle holy water on the victim’s face and body before proceeding to molest herNorhizam Bahaman, Sepang district police chief
“The suspect’s modus operandi was allegedly to sprinkle holy water on the victim’s face and body before proceeding to molest her,” Norhizam said.
Kanaran, who was crowned Miss Grand Malaysia in 2021, alleged the ordeal was compounded by threats from the investigating officer, who she claimed warned her against publicising the assault, saying: “If you do, it will be your fault [and] you’ll be blamed.”
Choosing not to follow this dubious advice, Kanaran took to social media to describe the incident in harrowing detail.
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She wrote that she had been on a “path forward” towards greater spirituality when the priest instructed her to enter an office, splashed her with a “very strong-smelling liquid” that stung her eyes and then groped her chest. He allegedly told her to undress, insisting “it would be a ‘blessing’ if I did ‘it’ with him because he serves God”, she said.
Frozen in shock, Kanaran was unable to protest. “I won’t go into details but I was molested by that priest and I couldn’t react,” she said.
Kanaran said the treachery felt especially acute because the assault took place at a temple – a place she had visited seeking peace. “That was where it happened, at a temple. That betrayal is what cuts the deepest,” she said.
The suspect has since fled, with temple authorities reportedly distancing themselves from him. Kanaran’s courageous disclosure has gone viral, shared by nearly 60,000 people on Instagram. Many have expressed outrage and solidarity, voicing their disgust at the alleged perpetrator.
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Among those moved by Kanaran’s account was Hemah Arumugham, who wrote that she had endured a similar ordeal at the same temple only days earlier, suggesting the priest might have been a repeat offender. “I truly understand how it feels,” Arumugham said, expressing her support for Kanaran.
Not all responses have been supportive, however. Some critics invoked victim-blaming tropes, questioning Kanaran’s attire and intent. One questioned if she was at the temple to seek blessings or to “seduce men”.
Some within the Hindu community have urged devotees not to amplify Kanaran’s post, arguing that “both sides” were to blame and that the controversy was “damaging to God’s name”.
Kanaran has rejected such attitudes, writing that not speaking up only perpetuates abuse. “This silence is what allows predators to keep doing what they do. That’s why it needs to be exposed,” she said.
