5 naked women held in M'sia mountain rite

5 naked women held in M'sia mountain rite

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Islamic officials have arrested 40 people -- including five women who were bathing in the nude -- for performing a midnight spiritual ritual on a mountain in southern Malaysia, a report said on Tuesday.

The group was led by a self-proclaimed bomoh (traditional healer) who performed prayers to the spirits of Ledang mountain in Johor state before going into a trance early Monday, the Star newspaper reported.

He then showered the naked women with water, a senior official of the state's religious department was quoted as saying. "Such beliefs are against Islamic teachings and the department had to arrest them," Mohamad Asari Tibek said.

He said the group would be questioned for indulging in "deviationist" teachings and brought before an Islamic syariah court. They could be fined up to 3,000 ringgit ($789) or jailed for up to a year if convicted.