Cops: Raid on alleged LGBT gathering was done after due intelligence work

THE raid by the police on an alleged lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group's dinner gathering at a bungalow in Jalan Kemumin, Kota Bahru recently was done as the authorities had strong evidence.

Kelantan Police Chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, said police intelligence work was done before the raid was carried out.

He said police also received complaints from relevant parties about the group's activities.

"After that, the police conducted intelligence before the raid was carried out and found that there were 20 people in the house.

"We conducted the raid for the good of all parties. We only want to prevent amar ma'ruf and nahi munkar (enjoining good and forbidding wrong)," he said as reported by Berita Harian.

Earlier, the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) confirmed that it had conducted a night outreach session on June 17 under the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations (DHSKP) model.

It said the session was in collaboration with Kota Jembal Health Clinic and part of a strategic approach introduced by the Health Ministry.

“We strongly urge that programmes such as this is not misrepresented or unnecessarily politicised, as such actions may disrupt collective efforts to tackle HIV in Malaysia.

“Instead, community-based approaches like DHSKP should receive broad support as a proven and effective strategy to end AIDS by 2030,” it said in a statement.

Mohd Yusoff said the raid was carried out to maintain public safety and order and that the operation had nothing to do with or an agenda to bring down the state government or Kelantan's reputation.

"My agenda is clearly for public safety and order in this state," he said.

The raid, which was carried out based on intelligence and public information at 1am in the middle of last month, also led to the seizure of hundreds of condoms and HIV medication.

When the raid was carried out, dozens of men had already returned home and only 20 were arrested. - July 19, 2025