Kelantan govt wants full probe into gay party incident

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government has called for a thorough inquiry into last month's alleged gay gathering at a bungalow in Kampung Kemumin, urging that no party be subjected to misunderstanding, slander, or premature public judgement.
Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the state is aware of the ongoing polemic between the Kelantan police and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as individuals who have denied that any immoral activities took place during the event.
"To resolve this issue, the state government urges that investigations be carried out carefully and comprehensively so that no party becomes a victim of misunderstanding, false accusations or societal punishment before the truth is established.
"If investigations prove that police actions were based on solid grounds, stern action must be taken against those involved.
"Conversely, if the claims by the NGOs and individuals are proven to be true, corrective measures should be implemented. Justice must prevail," he said here today.
The police raid occurred in mid-June but was only reported only on Thursday.
Homosexual acts are criminalised in Malaysia and carry prison sentences under the country's civil laws.
For members of the Malay-Muslim majority who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ), the risks are even higher.
They may also be prosecuted under the separate Islamic legal system enforced in several states—where punishments can include public caning or mandatory programmes aimed at "rehabilitation."
Fadzli also said that if the participants involved were not from Kelantan, this fact should be made clear to the public to avoid unwarranted blame being placed on the state's residents.
"Transparency is essential to prevent the public from making baseless assumptions or unfair judgements.
"If it is true, as reported, that the participants were from outside Kelantan, then this must be clarified openly so that innocent Kelantanese citizens are not unjustly criticised," he said.
Fadzli stressed that any party intending to organise events, especially those that could raise controversy or confusion, must obtain permission from the relevant authorities.
"Failure to follow proper guidelines and procedures could lead to unintended consequences and threaten the harmony of the state," he said.
He acknowledged receiving multiple inquiries following the police raid, which sparked a public outcry after it was initially described as a "gay sex party".
"NGOs, including Suaram, the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), and Amnesty International Malaysia, issued a joint statement denying the allegations.
"They insisted that the participants were there to access health information and undergo sexual health screenings, not to engage in illicit activities.
"The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) also confirmed that a field engagement session took place on June 17 under the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations (DHSKP) model, supported by the Ministry of Health," he added.
Fadzli said the state government reaffirms its firm and uncompromising stance against any activity that contradicts Islamic teachings and moral values.
"Any attempt to normalise immoral behaviour will not be tolerated in this state," he added.
He also expressed appreciation for the swift and firm actions taken by the Kelantan police in line with the principle of amar makruf nahi mungkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil), which remains a core tenet of the state's governance.