The police are leaving no stones unturned in investigating a video depicting a group of 18 nudists frolicking in a secluded beach on Penang island, a first of its kind in the state, that had set tongues wagging.
Southwest district police chief Superintendent Lai Fah Hin said their investigations included taking DNA samples and finger prints from a hut the nudists were believed to have stayed in Pantai Kerachut during their outing about three months ago.
He said a team of 10 personnel from the districts' forensic unit had started combing for evidence at the hut and several spots the nudists were believed to have hung out.
"We have also recorded statement from a local man who had lodged a report with us on the incident.
"We are going all out against the culprits. "We want to identify and track them down," he said when asked on the video, which had gone viral on the social media over the past few days.
The footage, taken on May 30, claimed that the activity took place in Teluk Kampit near Pantai Kerachut. An announcement, "See you this coming Dec 5, 2014, the Asian Nude Sport Games and Conference in Penang, Malaysia," was also found in the video.
A user, identified only as Albert, had uploaded the 326-second long video, titled "Penang Nude Sports Games 2014" on to Vimeo about two months ago, and thanked one Miss Chew for organising the event and the "naturists for coming and making it a history in Malaysia".
According to a review made by one Justin, the group had assembled at the Teluk Bahang jetty before they took a boat ride to a secret spot on the beach.
Upon arrival, the group was greeted by a "ranger" before they gathered at a hut to start stripping.
The nudists later took turns to paint their bodies before they took to the beach for some sports games, which included swim-over-body challenge and passing-the-baton.
They also took a nude walk along the two-kilometre beach and had the "ranger" helped them with some of the chores, including setting up a bonfire.
It is not immediately known if the nudists were locals or if the person Justin had described as "ranger" was an officer of the State National Parks Department. Efforts to contact the department for clarification proved futile.
Lai said police have classified the case as gestures intended to insult the modesty of a person under Section 509 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, a nudist is liable up to five years' jail or fine or both.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government does not support such 'wrong' activities and had never issued approval for such gatherings.
"In Penang, we do not even allow casinos to be built and we will definitely not allow such events to be held here.
"We will let the police investigate the matter and if it involved Muslims, we will ask the religious authorities to act," he said when asked on the matter.
Asked on the nudists' claim that a purported Taman Negara "ranger" had helped them out, he said that the national park was under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Checks later in the day showed the video had been deleted from Vimeo.
Penang Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia Mohd youth chief Mohd Ridzuad Mohd Azudin had also lodged a report on the matter.
Penang Umno public complaint bureau chief Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin urged Lim and State Islamic Religious Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim to make public apology, especially to Muslims, since he claimed the state government was responsible for the incident either directly or indirectly.
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