Not a 'gay party' but a HIV awareness event
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a tweet last night, shared a statement from the Kelantan Health Department which said the event was part of outreach activities.
The event was organised by Sahabat, an NGO operating under the guidance of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF).
The statement said Sahabat has been a strategic partner of the department since 2006 in implementing health education and field activities targeting high-risk populations, including intravenous drug users and men who have sex with men (MSM).
In his tweet, Dzulkefly said collaborations between the ministry, state health departments, and NGOs were crucial in reaching high-risk populations to raise awareness on prevention strategies, the importance of early diagnosis, and the benefits of early treatment in preventing serious complications.
"Health education is also important to improve health literacy and to protect close contacts, such as wives and children, who are at risk of contracting HIV.
"The ministry remains committed to a public health approach that prioritises disease prevention, early intervention, and access to treatment for all, in line with the country's health policy according to religious values and cultural sensitivity."
It was reported that on June 17, police raided the programme at 1am, seizing HIV medication and condoms.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Yusoff Mamat said the operation followed public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by a special team after complaints about a food-themed event allegedly organised for the gay community.
However, several NGOs rejected claims that it was a "gay party", saying the event aimed to provide sexual health and HIV-related information, distribute condoms, and offer voluntary testing to encourage safer sexual practices.
The Malaysian AIDS Council, which was involved, added that the late-night session was due to confidential HIV testing, which takes 10 to 15 minutes per client, with those testing reactive given counselling and referred for follow-up care.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat subsequently defended the raid, saying it was based on strong evidence.
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