A Malaysian actress and television host of Indian descent has accused a Hindu priest of molesting her at a temple in Sepang, Malaysia. The incident reportedly took place last month at the Mariamman Temple and was brought to public attention when Lishalliny Kanaran, who won the title of Miss Grand Malaysia in 2021, shared her experience on social media. According to Kanaran, the priest, an Indian national temporarily officiating at the temple, used the pretext of blessing her with “holy water from India” to touch her inappropriately. Sepang district police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman confirmed the allegations, stating that the suspect’s modus operandi involved sprinkling holy water on Kanaran’s face and body before proceeding to molest her. Despite being advised by an investigating officer not to publicize the incident, Kanaran chose to speak out on Instagram, detailing the traumatic experience. Kanaran recounted that she visited the temple alone on June 21, as her mother was in India. She described how the priest, who usually guided her through rituals due to her unfamiliarity with them, approached her during prayer. He offered her holy water and a protective string as a blessing and asked her to meet him after her prayers. After waiting for over an hour while he attended to other devotees, Kanaran followed him to his private office where the alleged assault occurred. The actress described being splashed with a strong-smelling liquid that stung her eyes before the priest groped her chest. He allegedly instructed her to undress for what he claimed was “for her good,” but when she refused, he criticized her attire. The situation escalated when he put his hands inside her blouse, claiming it would be a “blessing” if she complied with his advances because he served God. Kanaran expressed feeling paralyzed and unable to react during the ordeal. The incident left Kanaran feeling violated and traumatized, particularly because it occurred in a sacred space where she sought solace. She filed a police complaint on July 4 but discovered that the priest had fled. She also accused the temple management of covering up previous complaints against him to protect their reputation. Malaysian authorities have launched a manhunt for the priest as investigations continue.