The incident gained widespread attention after a video of the altercation went viral on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The footage showed a heated exchange between two men inside the shopping mal, as one reportedly suspected that the other was a Malay-Muslim openly eating during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

In his post on X, the victim said he was having a meal at a convenience store when an elderly man demanded to see his identity card, Free Malaysia Today reported.

After the victim refused to do so, the man became angry and slapped him several times.

“Even though I’m not Muslim and I wasn’t disturbing him, he got angry at me and asked me why I was eating (in public) during fasting hours,” the victim wrote on his X post.

The case is being investigated under the Penal Code for “voluntarily causing hurt” and if found guilty, the offender can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to one year or fined up to RM2,000 or both.

The incident was an act of provocation that went against the spirit of unity and harmony in Malaysia’s multicultural society, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

During Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, which lasts from late February to late March, daytime fasting is mandatory for all adult Muslims who do not have acute or chronic illnesses.