In a Facebook post, Siti said she was at a closed-door dinner organised by the transgender community last night, when she saw a group of Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) enforcement officers at the back of the room. The officers were not accompanied by any police personnel.

“The Maknyahs (transgenders) were simply having dinner and doing a show as if it is a beauty contest and each of them pretended to represent a country of their choice,” she said, questioning when had it become illegal to stage a show during a dinner.

According to Siti, a Jawi officer said the department was there as they had received a complaint about a purported “Beauty Contest”, but she stressed it was only a show meant to raise funds for charity.

She alleged that the religious authorities did not have warrants with them and had blocked all exits. The police arrived only after Siti called them and allowed most guests to leave.

However, a religious authority officer purportedly told Siti he wanted to arrest her and another transgender who hosted the dinner.

“I asked him under what section (of the law) was he arresting me and he quoted a section in the Penal Code. I then told him only the police could arrest me and he had no right to do so.”

She said the pair was taken all the same to the Dang Wangi police station, where suddenly the religious authority officer denied Siti was arrested.

“Then, my question is why was I put in the van then? Why did he say at the hotel that he was arresting me?”

“Now, what is the purpose of their raid last night? What wrong have the Maknyah done? They were in a closed-door function with dinner and a show.”

She claimed the transgender detained with her was also refused the right to lodge a police report against the religious authorities.

“They had failed to follow proper SOP. No police were present when they entered the premises. There was no warrant. They (religious authorities) had acted like bullies,” she alleged.