We, the undersigned, call on the Federal and state governments to exercise restraint and adopt a public health and human rights response in relation to the upcoming Glamping with Pride event. 

Reportedly, at least 5 police reports have been lodged against the event, which is slated to take place on 17 and 18 January in Hulu Langat. The police have reportedly opened investigation papers under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentionally insulting a person with the intention to cause provocation and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act (CMA), which penalises improper use of network facilities. Further, it was also reported that the Hulu Langat Member of Parliament has scheduled a meeting with a resort owner, allegedly the host of the event, on 12 January 2025. 

Additionally, the Federal and state Islamic agencies have not only cautioned members of the public from participating in the upcoming event or other LGBTQ events, but have also recommended that LGBTQ people participate in their spiritual camps, aiming to change LGBTQ people’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. These camps and other efforts by the government aiming to “correct” LGBTQ people have been questioned by human rights bodies, as these practices are inherently harmful and widely rejected. 

Weaponisation of prejudicial public complaint 

We are deeply concerned that the investigation is conducted based on prejudicial police reports. The police reports lodged against the event and organisers are based on prejudicial or discriminatory views against LGBTQ people, and aimed to restrict their rights. 

These prejudicial police reports cannot be weaponised to further restrict rights of vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ human rights defenders, groups, and people. The on-going prejudicial complaints against LGBTQ people and groups evidently show that LGBTQ people are the ones in need of protection from such prejudices.

Given this trend in Malaysia, the police have a duty to assess such prejudicial elements and adopt deescalation tactics to reduce harm and prejudice against complainants. This is within the state’s obligation to uphold rule of law and protect, promote, and fulfill the rights of all people. 

Besides the preemptive investigation into the event, warnings were issued by state actors as measures to quash the organisers’ efforts and prevent the event from taking place. These investigations and warnings violate the organiser and the participants’ right to freedom of assembly and expression as well as right to non-discrimination and equality before the law, which are safeguarded under Articles 10 and 8 of the Federal Constitution. 

The use of Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the CMA against the organisers not only amounts to trumped-up charges against human rights defenders, but also deeply reflects the misguided assessment by the police of this situation. We call for all investigations against the organisers to be dropped. The state has a duty to ensure that human rights defenders can do their work meaningfully and operate in a conducive environment. 

Vilification and demonisation of LGBTQ people 

The police investigation that the organiser and the event have allegedly caused intentional provocation and disruption to peace and harmony is built on weak grounds. The actual provocations and breaches of peace are in fact caused by the threats, misinformation, and vilification of LGBTQ people by state and non-state actors. 

Such harmful acts increase threats to personal safety, deepen the LGBTQ people’s distrust in public institutions, and fuel discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people with impunity. Following the negative attention and investigations, the organiser and events have received violent comments, including death threats. 

A 2021 Justice for Sisters’s survey found that 33.6% of 124 LGBTIQ respondents reported direct discrimination due to anti-LGBT statements by state actors, namely politicians. While 56.4% noted that it caused them significant distress. 

We reiterate that the existence of different sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) is a normal part of human diversity. We call the Federal and state agencies to end all vilification, demonisation, misinformation, and portrayal of LGBTQ people as threat to society, morality, culture and religion.

Threats to HIV and sexual health events targeting LGBTQ people 

We are also concerned with the Federal and state governments’ increased targeting of HIV-related programmes for LGBTQ people. In 2025, at least three HIV and sexual health events were disrupted by the police with one event resulting in arrests and prosecution of three people. In addition, at least two venues used to promote sexual health, among men of diverse sexual orientation were also raided. 

The Ministry of Health have repeatedly noted that gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are a hard to reach population. In its recent report, the MOH noted an “urgent necessity for comprehensive and targeted intervention strategies to curb the epidemic and protect vulnerable groups. 

These investigations are completely counterproductive to MOH’s public health efforts, and the overall government’s efforts to end AIDS by 2030. 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. 

We reiterate our call for the police as well as Federal and state governments to immediately stop all prejudicial investigations into the Glamping with Pride event. The government agencies must reassess their approaches and adopt a public health and human rights response in this matter. We call on all government agencies to collaborate with human rights defenders to reduce prejudice and impunity against LGBTIQ people and to ensure harmony among people of diverse backgrounds in Malaysia. 

Endorsed by 

1. Justice for Sisters 
2. North South Initiative 
3. Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
4. People Like Us Hang Out! (PLUHO)
5. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
6. Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM)
7. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
8. JEJAKA
9. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
10. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
11. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
12. ALTSEAN-Burma
13. KL Queer Space