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Malay Mail
20-07-2025
- Malay Mail
After Kelantan cops raided HIV outreach, three men fined RM3,000 and RM4,000 for ‘obscene' images and clips found in phones
KOTA BARU, July 20 — Three men were fined by the Magistrates' Court here today for possessing pornographic images and videos on their phones following a police raid during an HIV medical outreach event in June. Harian Metro reported that the court imposed fines of RM3,000 and RM4,000 respectively — or six months' imprisonment in default — on the trio after they pleaded guilty to the charges. 'The accused have repented and promised not to repeat the offence. Their families have also pledged to guide them on the right path,' their lawyer Samantha Chong Yin Xin reportedly told the court. Deputy Public Prosecutors Muhammad Nadzir Abdullah and Nur Haziqah Hassan had urged Magistrate Wan Mohd Izzat Wan Abdullah to impose a deterrent sentence, citing public morality and social norms. The men, aged 22, 27, and 47, were charged under Section 292 of the Penal Code which handles 'sales, etc, or obscene books, etc'. The charge carried a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction. A coalition of civil society groups had previously urged Kelantan police to revise their statement on a June 2025 raid of an alleged 'gay sex party' here, which they clarified was in fact a health outreach event. The groups, led by transgender rights advocacy group Justice for Sisters, said media reports following the raid resulted in harmful and stigmatising remarks that have intensified fear among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals seeking health services. The coalition said all attendees tested negative in police-conducted urine tests, and no evidence of sexual activity or promotional content on social media was found. Three individuals were arrested over personal intimate content on their phones, which the groups described as trumped-up charges. On Friday, the MAC confirmed that it conducted a night outreach session here on June 17 under the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations model. MAC said the session was in collaboration with Kota Jembal Health Clinic and part of a strategic approach introduced by the Health Ministry. It said the session was held from 8pm to 2am and had reached over 70 high-risk individuals, with services scheduled outside office hours to improve accessibility.
Malay Mail
20-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Kelantan Health Dept washes hands off HIV outreach, after Malaysian AIDS Council clarifies misinformation over ‘gay sex party'
KOTA BHARU, July 20 — The Kelantan Health Department has today attempted to distance itself from an HIV health outreach programme in Pengkalan Chepa that was raided by then police, who then alleged that it was a 'gay sex party'. New Straits Times cited state health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin saying the programme was organised by a non-governmental organisation partner of the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC). 'The programme was organised by an NGO,' he was quoted saying. 'The Kota Jembal health officer was only invited to deliver a health talk during one of the event's sessions,' he said. He also alleged that the police raid took place after the programme had concluded. On Friday, MAC confirmed that it conducted a night outreach session here on June 17 under the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations model. MAC said the session was in collaboration with Kota Jembal Health Clinic and part of a strategic approach introduced by the Health Ministry. It said the session was held from 8pm to 2am and had reached over 70 high-risk individuals, with services scheduled outside office hours to improve accessibility. This comes as a coalition of civil society groups had also urged Kelantan police to revise their statement on a June 2025 raid of an alleged 'gay sex party' here, which they clarified was in fact a health outreach event. The groups, led by transgender rights advocacy group Justice for Sisters, said media reports following the raid resulted in harmful and stigmatising remarks that have intensified fear among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals seeking health services.
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Civil groups clarify Kelantan event was HIV outreach event not ‘gay sex party', slam police's conduct during raid
KOTA BHARU, July 19 — A coalition of civil society groups has urged Kelantan police to revise their statement on a June 2025 raid of an alleged 'gay sex party' here, which they claim was in fact a health outreach event. The groups, led by transgender rights advocacy group Justice for Sisters, said media reports following the raid resulted in harmful and stigmatising remarks that have intensified fear among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals seeking health services. 'Contrary to the allegation that the event was a 'gay sex party', it was actually a health event,' the groups said in a statement. 'In keeping with the goals of the event, it provided sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual health practices.' It said the event provided HIV-related information, condoms, voluntary testing, and health talks with doctors, running from 8pm until around midnight. The coalition said all attendees tested negative in police-conducted urine tests, and no evidence of sexual activity or promotional content on social media was found. Three individuals were arrested over personal intimate content on their phones, which the groups described as trumped-up charges. They highlighted that such events target hard-to-reach populations, as identified by the Ministry of Health, and are vital to national AIDS eradication goals. The coalition said the police's public statements were stigmatising, including unnecessary disclosure of HIV status and harmful suggestions about HIV medication. They also alleged human rights violations during the raid, including degrading treatment and privacy breaches, which have deterred victims from seeking redress. 'Justice for Sisters has documented a range of human rights violations by the police during the raid, including violations of privacy as well as degrading and humiliating treatment of the attendees. 'We are also deeply concerned by the lack of ability of the event organisers and the detainees to speak up and seek redress due to concerns over backlash by the police and the state government,' they said. Concern was also raised over the perceived regression in police practices, which previously avoided disrupting health services for marginalised groups. The statement was endorsed by over 25 organisations and individuals, including Amnesty International Malaysia, PT Foundation, Centre for Independent Journalism, Women's Aid Organisation, and medical professionals.
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Civil groups clarify Kelantan event was HIV medical outreach not ‘gay sex party', slam police's conduct during raid
KOTA BHARU, July 19 — A coalition of civil society groups has urged Kelantan police to revise their statement on a June 2025 raid of an alleged 'gay sex party' here, which they claim was in fact a health outreach event. The groups, led by transgender rights advocacy group Justice for Sisters, said media reports following the raid resulted in harmful and stigmatising remarks that have intensified fear among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals seeking health services. 'Contrary to the allegation that the event was a 'gay sex party', it was actually a health event,' the groups said in a statement. 'In keeping with the goals of the event, it provided sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual health practices.' It said the event provided HIV-related information, condoms, voluntary testing, and health talks with doctors, running from 8pm until around midnight. The coalition said all attendees tested negative in police-conducted urine tests, and no evidence of sexual activity or promotional content on social media was found. Three individuals were arrested over personal intimate content on their phones, which the groups described as trumped-up charges. They highlighted that such events target hard-to-reach populations, as identified by the Ministry of Health, and are vital to national AIDS eradication goals. The coalition said the police's public statements were stigmatising, including unnecessary disclosure of HIV status and harmful suggestions about HIV medication. They also alleged human rights violations during the raid, including degrading treatment and privacy breaches, which have deterred victims from seeking redress. 'Justice for Sisters has documented a range of human rights violations by the police during the raid, including violations of privacy as well as degrading and humiliating treatment of the attendees. 'We are also deeply concerned by the lack of ability of the event organisers and the detainees to speak up and seek redress due to concerns over backlash by the police and the state government,' they said. Concern was also raised over the perceived regression in police practices, which previously avoided disrupting health services for marginalised groups. The statement was endorsed by over 25 organisations and individuals, including Amnesty International Malaysia, PT Foundation, Centre for Independent Journalism, Women's Aid Organisation, and medical professionals.
Malaysiakini
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
PPPA bans increasingly target LGBTQ+ media, local publications: Report
A report has found that the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) has been increasingly wielded against LGBTQ+ media and local publications in recent years. According to Justice For Sisters (JFS) co-founder Thilaga Sulathireh, LGBTQ+ media accounted for 42 percent of all banned media between 2020 to May 2025.
