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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
NGO says Kelantan HIV infections slashed through joint outreach programmes
Persatuan Perantaraan Pesakit Kelantan said the event was aimed at providing a safe, stigma-free space to deliver vital health information, screening services, and counselling. PETALING JAYA : A health NGO says its collaboration with the health ministry, Kelantan health department, and Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) has resulted in a significant reduction of HIV infections in the state, following a police raid on an alleged 'gay party'. Persatuan Perantaraan Pesakit Kelantan (SAHABAT) said the reduction was especially among those who inject drugs, once the primary driver of local HIV transmission. However, it did not provide any statistics. With HIV transmission methods now shifting towards sexual contact, SAHABAT said different intervention strategies were needed. 'Efforts are now focused on reaching individuals engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour, a group often difficult to access through conventional health services,' it said in a statement. It added that these strategies were carried out 'with sensitivity to local cultural norms and values'. Last Saturday, Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat said more than 20 men were arrested at a bungalow in Kota Bharu, allegedly for attending a 'gay party'. However, several groups and doctors later clarified that it was a health event organised to provide sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual health practices. They said the event, which began at 8pm, included talks by healthcare providers, including doctors. It was to have ended by midnight, but about 20 attendees were still at the event awaiting their test results. None of the attendees at the event was there to provide sexual services, they said. Yusoff said on Wednesday that the raid, carried out to maintain public order and safeguard moral values, was conducted based on valid intelligence and evidence, with no intent of discrimination. SAHABAT said it had organised a community outreach programme at a homestay in Kota Bharu on June 17 as part of its targeted approach. It said the event was aimed at providing a safe, stigma-free space to deliver vital health information, screening services, and counselling, and included talks on HIV and sexually transmitted infections and screenings. 'This outreach reflects the shared commitment of SAHABAT, MAC, the Kelantan health department, and the health ministry to ensure that high-risk communities are not left behind in accessing essential health services,' it said.
Rakyat Post
22-07-2025
- Rakyat Post
University Students Fined For Pornography Possession After HIV Event Raid In Kelantan
Subscribe to our FREE Three individuals, including two university students, were fined for possessing pornographic material on their mobile phones following a police raid at a community health event in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The lawyer representing the case, Sam CH, clarified on social media that the charges were filed under Section 292 of the Penal Code for 'possessing obscene material' – not for any activities related to a 'gay party' as some media reports suggested. The incident occurred during what the lawyer described as a legitimate community health programme. A banner reading 'Program Mesra Kesihatan Komuniti' (Community Health Programme) was displayed at the venue. Doctors from government health clinics had been invited to speak about HIV prevention and awareness. Counselling sessions were also being conducted. 'No drug was found; no one was caught using drugs that night. No one was having sex at the event place,' Sam wrote in her Facebook post. Legal Consequences and Digital Privacy Warning According to the lawyer, when police found no evidence of illegal activities at the venue, they proceeded to search mobile phones of those present. The three individuals were detained for five days before being fined. The lawyer said her clients have since paid their fines and 'learned their lessons', though she noted they were 'traumatised' by the experience. Sam warned the public about digital privacy, explaining that police can retrieve deleted images and videos from phones. Ladies and gentlemen, never browse pornographic websites with your phone. Police will still be able to retrieve obscene images in your phone even if you had deleted the images and video. She also called for police to focus resources on more serious crimes, including drug trafficking, violent crimes, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence, corruption and fraud. The lawyer emphasised that her comments represented her personal views and not those of her clients or the Malaysian AIDS Council/Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAC/MAF). NGOs Dispute Police Claims Over Raid Previously, a coalition of 31 NGOs has rejected police claims about the raid, supposedly an LGBTQ+-linked programme. The event was a legitimate health initiative providing HIV testing and sexual health information, not a 'gay sex party' as authorities alleged. MAC confirmed the session was conducted under a Health Ministry-supported model targeting high-risk groups, involving over 70 clients and healthcare providers including doctors. NGOs expressed concern about the re-emergence of raids on health centres and events for minority groups, saying such actions undermine public courage to seek HIV treatment and prevention services. The coalition called on police to correct their 'inaccurate statements' and urged the Health Ministry to investigate the matter. READ MORE : Parts of this story have been sourced from Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Free Malaysia Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Kelantan open to talks with AIDS council, cops over LGBT event
Kelantan deputy menteri besar Fadzli Hassan said programmes touching on sensitivities must be approved by the relevant authorities. PETALING JAYA : The Kelantan government has expressed its willingness to meet with police and the Malaysian AIDS Council regarding the recent organisation of a programme related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Kota Bharu. Deputy menteri besar Fadzli Hassan said they were seeking to discuss and gain a clearer understanding of the event so the matter can be resolved diplomatically, and to dispel any unfounded allegations. 'Perhaps the mistake was not the organiser's. That's why it needs to be investigated first so that police are not wrongly blamed by the public. 'The police have their job, the AIDS council also has its responsibilities. 'Any programme that goes against the state government's policies and the customs of Kelantan's people is something we simply cannot accept,' Bernama reported him as saying at the Kota Darulnaim Complex today. Fadzli said programmes touching on sensitivities, especially when held within village communities, require permission from the relevant authorities such as the Kelantan Islamic religious affairs department, police and others. He said the state government can also take appropriate action if any event is found to have violated any of its regulations In mid-June, Kelantan police raided an LGBT-related event involving more than 20 men at a bungalow on Jalan Kemumin in Kota Bharu. Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat was reported as saying the operation was conducted based on tip-offs and intelligence gathered by a special task force, following complaints. A search of the premises uncovered hundreds of condoms and several boxes of HIV medication stored in a special room believed to be used as a storage place by the organisers. The Malaysian AIDS Council said it had conducted an outreach session on June 17 in Kemumin to engage with high-risk communities as part of HIV prevention efforts before the police raid. The programme, which ran from 8pm to 2am, was part of a strategic approach by the health ministry to deliver more inclusive and community-centred HIV treatment services.
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Kelantan govt open to talks over LGBT programme with police, MAC
KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan government is open to discussions with the police and the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) regarding a recent LGBT-related programme held in the state. Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan emphasised the need for clarity on the event's organisation to resolve the matter diplomatically. 'Perhaps the mistake made was not the organiser's fault. That's why it needs to be investigated first, so that the police are not wrongfully blamed by the public. The police have their job, and on the other side, MAC also has its responsibilities,' he said after the state assembly session. Mohamed Fadzli stated that any programme conflicting with state policies and local customs would not be tolerated. He stressed that events involving sensitive issues must obtain prior approval from authorities like the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAHEIK) and the police. The issue arose after a police raid in mid-June at a bungalow in Jalan Kemumin, where an LGBT-related event was held. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed the operation followed public complaints and intelligence reports. Authorities found hundreds of condoms and HIV medication at the location. MAC clarified that the June 17 event was part of an HIV prevention initiative endorsed by the Ministry of Health. The outreach aimed to engage high-risk communities through inclusive healthcare strategies. Mohamed Fadzli added that the state government could take action if any event violates regulations. The discussions aim to prevent misunderstandings while upholding Kelantan's cultural and religious values. – Bernama
Barnama
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Kelantan Govt open To Talks With Police, Mac Over LGBT Programme
KOTA BHARU, July 21 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan government has expressed its willingness to meet with all relevant parties, including the police and the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), regarding the recent organisation of a programme related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in Kota Bharu. Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the meeting is to discuss and gain a clearer understanding of the event's organisation, so that the matter may be resolved diplomatically and dispel any unfounded allegations. 'Perhaps the mistake made was not the organiser's fault. That's why it needs to be investigated first, so that the police are not wrongfully blamed by the public. The police have their job, and on the other side, MAC also has its responsibilities. 'Any programme that goes against the state government's policies and the customs of the Kelantanese people is something we simply cannot accept,' he said during a press conference after the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here today. He said that for programmes touching on sensitivities, especially when held within village communities, permission must first be obtained from the relevant authorities such as the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAHEIK), the police and others. Commenting further, Mohamed Fadzli said the state government could also take appropriate action if any event is found to have violated regulations set by the state government. In mid-June, Kelantan police raided an LGBT-related event involving more than 20 local men at a bungalow in Jalan Kemumin here. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat was reported as saying that the operation was conducted based on public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by a special task force, following complaints about the event. A search of the premises uncovered hundreds of condoms and several boxes of HIV medication stored in a special room believed to be used as a storage place by the organisers.
