KUALA LUMPUR – The founders of eHati International have denied claims that their women’s wellness programmes promote tantric sex and deviant teachings, blaming a series of viral Facebook posts for triggering what they describe as a wave of misinformation and public condemnation.
Calling the accusations “false, defamatory and deeply damaging,” co-founders Diyana Tahir and Rahim Shukor said the backlash – including statements from the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) – was made without any formal investigation or direct engagement with their organisation.
“We urge the authorities to verify the facts before issuing any judgement,” they said in a media statement on Monday. “What is being circulated paints an inaccurate and harmful picture of what we do.”
The controversy erupted earlier this month after several Facebook posts, allegedly by a woman known as Masyitah Ashari, accused eHati of teaching practices rooted in tantra, encouraging self-pleasure, and introducing elements deemed un-Islamic. The posts quickly went viral, prompting public criticism and an ongoing investigation by JAIS under state shariah law.
Among the viral allegations was a claim that eHati had served participants a drink laced with “magic mushrooms” during one of its retreats. The founders said the beverage in question, known as Piya, is simply a blend of raw cocoa, honey and natural spices.
“It is formulated to help calm the mind and body. Any suggestion that it contains illicit ingredients is completely unfounded,” they said.
Addressing the wider claims, Diyana and Rahim clarified that no element of tantra is included in any of eHati’s modules. They said a massage technique cited in the allegations is a therapeutic method adapted from pelvic floor and Thai massage traditions – entirely optional and modified to suit local cultural sensitivities.
They also rejected suggestions that eHati encouraged women to reject marriage or abandon their spouses.
“Our focus is on healing and strengthening marriages, not breaking them apart,” they said. “We believe every woman deserves peace and emotional safety within her relationship.”
They stressed that eHati’s programmes centre on trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and self-confidence, particularly for women navigating personal or marital challenges.
“Our programmes are built around techniques like breathwork, hypnotherapy and trauma release exercises. These are grounded in psychology, not any religious ritual,” the statement said.
The founders also addressed a circulating photo purportedly showing participants in a ritual-like setting during a retreat in Bali. They said the image was misrepresented – the floral decorations were arranged by the hotel, while the man seen in the image was a health practitioner brought in to conduct a detox session, not a spiritual guide.
They acknowledged that JAIS had previously reviewed one of their programmes in 2022, but said the matter was resolved after they provided a full explanation.
“JAIS allowed us to continue operating, with the simple condition that we include a disclaimer for participants – which we did,” they said.
Beyond reputational damage, the couple said the episode had taken a personal toll. They claimed Diyana’s mother’s health deteriorated under the stress of the controversy, and she passed away on Sunday morning.
“Our final moments with her were overshadowed by this issue. Even her burial was disrupted,” they said.
A police report was lodged on July 12, alongside a complaint to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The company says it is now pursuing legal action against parties responsible for publishing false or malicious content.
“We have never received complaints from our participants,” the founders added. “Instead, many have told us they’ve found clarity, confidence and healing through our programmes.”
They also reiterated that eHati is not affiliated with any political party and operates as an independent, privately owned entity. – July 15, 2025
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