ROJAKDAILY
Former Miss Grand M'sia Claims She Was Molested By A Priest In Selangor During A ‘Blessing’
A place of worship should be a safe space for anyone. But for one Malaysian, a visit to a temple only brought her trauma and misery.
In a post on Instagram, former Miss Grand Malaysia 2021, Lishalliny Kanaran shared her unfortunate ordeal she faced at a local temple in Selangor.
According to her, she had never been a religious person until recently. She began to visit the temple regularly to learn about her religion.
However, on June 21, Lishalliny had gone to the temple alone, since her mother was in India. While praying, a priest who regularly guides her through rituals approached her to offer a blessing.
“Since I'm new to all this, I always appreciate his help. On that day, while I was praying, he approached me and told me he had some holy water and a protective string to tie for me; a blessing. He asked me to see him after my prayers.”
So, after she finished with her prayers, she went to see him in the office but soon felt uneasy
Lishalliny said she waited for the priest for half an hour as he did individual blessings and rituals to other temple-goers. But, as Lishalliny followed him to the office, her gut started telling her something was off.
“Inside the office, he asked me to sit while he stood. He poured something, a very strong-smelling liquid, like rose or flower essence into the holy water. He said it was from India and that they don't usually give it to ‘ordinary people’. He kept splashing the water on my face, so much that my eyes stung and I couldn't even open them.”
Lishalliny then claimed the priest asked her to lift her Punjabi suit
Obviously, she refused but the priest kept insisting it was ‘for her own good’. It was then when she told him she couldn't take the blouse off because it was too tight, prompting the priest to scold her for dressing that way.
The priest later continued the ritual, splashing water at Lishalliny and stood behind her.
“He kept murmuring something I couldn't understand, prayers maybe, and suddenly, he held my head and continued murmuring while touching me. Then, without warning, he put his hands inside my blouse, into my bra, and started touching me inappropriately.”
As if that's not enough, Lishalliny claimed the priest said it would be a ‘blessing’ if she did ‘it’ with him because he serves God.
“My brain knew everything about that moment was wrong, yet I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I froze. And I still don't understand why. When I finally managed to run, he said something like ‘This week will be a lucky week for you. I've done this for you’.”
Lishalliny cried herself every single night from the trauma
It was not until July 4 that Lishalliny found the courage to finally tell her mother what had happened. Needless to say, her mother was furious and reported it to her father and two brothers. A police report was later lodged the same day.
Unfortunately, when the family went to the temple to demand an explanation, the management said the priest wasn't there anymore.
Shockingly, Lishalliny later found out it wasn't the first time the priest had done the disgusting act but no action was taken.
“When the chairman arrived, he claimed he didn't know where the priest had gone and even said he only met him once. As if to assure us, he said he had spoken to the DSP but I later realised it was only to protect himself."
At the end of her post, Lishalliny said she decided to write her experience not to victimise herself but to help others that had the same unfortunate experience.
“I've always been someone who speaks her heart and mind. But this time, I kept quiet. Because I was broken. Because I felt ashamed. But if I kept quiet, who else will speak up?,” she said.
Police currently on the hunt for the priest
In a report by Malay Mail, it is understood that the authorities are on a hunt for the temple priest.
The case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for outrage of modesty, which is punishable by a prison term not more than 10 years, a fine and whipping, or any two of such punishments, upon conviction.
Featured Image Credit: Lishalliny Kanaran | Instagram, Google
Featured Image Credit: Lishalliny Kanaran | Instagram, Google