Press coverage on khalwat (seclusion of male and female) cases does not help to curb the act and more often than not have malicious origins in opportunistic parties who intend to bring shame to those involved, Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said today.

According to a Bernama report, Zainuddin said the media practise double standard when it comes to khalwat cases, and play into the hands of certain people who would tip off the media on cases that involve their opponents in politics and religion.

"Instead, if the accused are members of religious groups or of their political party, the case is covered up from the public," he told reporters in Kuala Terengganu today.

He urged the media to ponder the appropriateness of publishing khalwat cases for public consumption.

Zainuddin was commenting on the "Saturday Notes" column of the New Straits Times today which said obsession with khalwat cases spoils the image of Islam.

The article mentioned the khalwat case of D Heryati Abdul Karim, the second wife of former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba, who was caught with three Bosnian students.

"I don't think by bringing shame to someone, it can help to correct our society," Zainuddin said, adding that exposure of khalwat not only brings shame to the individuals accused but is also a laughing matter among non-Muslims.

Zainuddin, who was Utusan Malaysia editor-in-chief for 10 years since 1982, said when he was holding the post, it was the newspaper's policy not to publish khalwat cases for fear it might not be fair for the parties involved.

"In my view, press reports on khalwat cases will become 'double standard' if it involved popular artistes but if the accused are VIPs, they do not want the case to be reported," he said.

Zainuddin reportedly said khalwat cases are a social process and the people should not look at it from certain sentiments.