Civil servant among 8 held at snooker centre for skipping fast

2026-03-11 - 03:04

Perak Islamic religious department enforcement chief Asyraf Ismail said the snooker centre had become a gathering place for Muslims who do not fast. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA: A civil servant was among eight Muslims detained yesterday for allegedly skipping their fast during the daytime and engaging in gambling activities at a snooker centre in Jalan Raja Ekram, Taman Jubilee, Ipoh. Perak Islamic religious department enforcement chief Asyraf Ismail said the raid, conducted under an operation codenamed Op Ponteng, followed a week of intelligence gathering. Five of the eight people, aged between 36 and 59, were detained under Section 24 of the Perak Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1992 for disrespecting Ramadan. All eight were suspected of gambling, abetting gambling, and abetting the offence of not respecting Ramadan. “We found that the premises had become a gathering place for Muslims who were not fasting. Food was also provided, and many were seen eating, drinking and smoking. “It is also understood that the centre provided free fried noodles to customers,” he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro. The Malay-language daily also reported that a food delivery rider claimed he was fasting and had stopped by the snooker centre to use the toilet. However, CCTV footage showed him smoking on the premises.