Justice for Sisters strongly condemns the raid at a health centre in Kuala Lumpur by the police, JAWI and DBKL on 28 November 2025. The raid resulted in the arrest of 201 people. Eighty of them are reportedly being investigated by JAWI for indecent behaviour in public spaces, while the rest are being investigated under Section 377B of the Penal Code for allegedly committing carnal intercourse. The police claimed that the raid was carried out due to public complaints. 

The media were also invited to participate in the raid, resulting in further violation of the privacy of the detainees. Justice for Sisters also strongly condemns the derogatory and harmful media reporting that has harmful impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people who are already vulnerable in society due to discrimination.

We strongly reject the idea that the police were compelled to act due to public complaints. It is important for the police to discern prejudicial elements in public complaints, given the alarming levels of discrimination against LGBTQ people in Malaysia. When the state raids and arrests LGBTQ people based on prejudicial complaints, the state is further legitimising discrimination and allowing impunity as well as victimisation of LGBTQ people. 

The raid was inherently discriminatory as the health centre was targeted due to its clientele, who are or perceived to be gay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Under international human rights laws and standards, the state is obligated to protect and promote the rights of LGBTIQ people, not regulate actual or perceived sexual orientation or sexual behaviour between consenting adults. 

The men were seen being hauled up in various parts of the building – in the sauna, pool, and gym – completely violating their right to privacy. The stigma and criminalisation of LGBTQ people in Malaysia through laws such as Section 377 and vague laws under the state Syariah Criminal Offences Act/enactments allow such violations to take place with impunity. Such criminalisation allows unnecessary intrusion of the state into the private lives of people based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. 

Further, the raid is completely counterproductive to the government’s efforts to end HIV by 2030 in Malaysia. Health centres, such as the one that was raided, are critical in providing safe spaces for people not only to exercise and socialise but also to seek health information. 

This year alone, JFS has observed multiple disruptions, including raids by the police and other state agencies on health events targeting LGBTIQ people. JFS’s survey on the impact of the police raid of the Kelantan Health event found that 61% of the survey respondents felt discouraged from attending future government or NGO organised health events. Additionally, 83% of the respondents noted that their perception and trust in the police has reduced. 

The Ministry of Health’s 2025 Global AIDS Monitoring report notes that rising prevalence of HIV among key populations (including GBQ men and MSM) “underscores the urgent necessity for comprehensive and targeted intervention strategies to curb the epidemic and protect vulnerable groups.” 

UNAIDS urges countries to decriminalise to end AIDS by 2030. Countries that criminalise key populations, including LGBTQ people, saw less progress towards reaching HIV testing and treatment targets successfully. On the flip side, countries that protect the human rights of LGBTIQ people have seen better progress. Research shows HIV prevalence among GBQ men and MSM who live in countries that criminalise same-sex relations is five times higher compared with countries without such criminal penalties. In countries where there are recent prosecutions, the prevalence is 12 times higher. 

Such police raids and arrests of LGBTQ people, coupled with sensational media coverage, both deter LGBTQ people from seeking support and undermine both governmental and communal efforts to end HIV and uphold human rights. 

We immediately call for all detainees to be released without charges. We also call for the Ministry of Health and Suhakam to investigate the human rights violations and public health impact of the raid.