Police Raid Alleged Gay Gathering in Kelantan, Authorities to Strengthen Laws

Gathering in Kota Bharu Bungalow Ends in Police Arrests

A private dinner party believed to involve members of the LGBT community was raided by police in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, around 1 am in mid-June 2025.

Photo for illustration purposes only. Via Canva

The event took place at a rented bungalow on Jalan Kemumin and was said to have drawn nearly 100 male participants.

Public Tip-Offs and Surveillance Led to Raid

According to Harian Metro, the raid was carried out following public complaints and police intelligence.

By the time officers entered the premises, most of the attendees had left, but 20 men between their 20s and 30 were detained for questioning.

Event Promoted Online, Allegedly Linked to Same-Sex Interests

Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat stated that the gathering had been promoted on social media and was organised as a free-entry dinner event.

The bungalow was reportedly used as a meeting point for individuals interested in same-sex relations, based on initial investigations reported by Kosmo!.

Authorities Seize Condoms and HIV Medication

Inside the bungalow, police discovered hundreds of condoms and boxes of HIV medication stored in a room suspected to be used by the organisers.

No sexual activity was found to have occurred at the time of the raid, but police are not ruling out the possibility that preparations for such acts were underway.

Some Participants are HIV-positive, Claimed to Offer Free Services

Additionally, investigations also revealed that some of the detained men admitted they were HIV-positive and claimed to offer free services to others.

Police noted that all attendees were Kelantan locals with jobs, and the gathering appeared to be well-organised and pre-publicised online.

Three Men Charged Over Explicit Content

Although most of the 20 men were later released after giving their statements, three individuals were formally charged for possessing explicit content involving same-sex acts.

According to reports, videos found on their mobile phones led to charges under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which deals with obscene material.

Police confirmed that this was the first incident of its kind in the state and stated that further monitoring would be carried out to understand how widespread such activities are in Kelantan.

Kelantan Government Responds to Raid

The Kelantan state government expressed support for the police action, describing the raid as a swift move to prevent what it called immoral activities.

Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the state does not recognise any form of lifestyle that contradicts Islamic teachings.

Photo via Wikimedia. Source: United States Embassy KL

He added that the state had already enacted the Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 (EKJS), which includes provisions for offences such as sodomy, musahaqah (sexual relations between women), and other acts considered immoral under Islamic principles.

The government now plans to amend and strengthen the enactment for more effective enforcement.

New Committee Formed to Address Issue

To coordinate efforts in preventing similar cases, the Kelantan government has established a special committee involving several state and federal agencies.

These include the police, Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department, the state health department, the Kelantan Islamic Foundation, the Social Welfare Department, and the National Anti-Drugs Agency.

Free Malaysia Today reported that the committee was set up to bring together various agencies to work closely in tackling what the state sees as growing concerns over moral decline and socially unacceptable behaviour.