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KUALA LUMPUR – Partygoers and political parties have slammed yesterday’s police raid on a Halloween party in RexKL, claiming that it was a targeted attack on the Malaysian queer community.
Netizens claimed that the party was held legally, and the organisers had the necessary permits to proceed with the party.
Let’s get the facts right yeah for some of you on here. The event organisers had all the necessary permits for the event and even met with the police yesterday to brief them of said event at REXKL.
— John Van Huizen ?? (@vanhuizen_john) October 29, 2022
This was not a “illegal party” or what not.
They also claimed that police were informed about the event prior, and that there were other ongoing Halloween parties at that time.
“If the RexKL raid is a GE15 ploy, it means to galvanise conservatives by showing that government parties are ‘religious’,” said activist Yu Ren-Chung.
“But (it is) also to disillusion progressives, as progressive parties won’t say much, as that may alienate the mainstream electorate.
“We shouldn’t play into their hands. The best response would be to not vote for the oppressive parties.”
If the REXKL raid is a #GE15 ploy, it means to: galvanise conservatives, by showing govt parties are "religious";
— Yu Ren-Chung (@renchung) October 29, 2022
but also to disillusion progressives, as progressive parties won't say much (as that may alienate the mainstream electorate).
We shouldn't play into their hands.
Another Twitter user stated that the raid was “perfect timing”.
“The election is coming, so what better way to pander to the largely morally conservative voters than to (unfairly treat) the most vulnerable and marginalised communities,” said Twitter user @tsaraisar.
perfect timing for the raids in rexkl and elsewhere. election is coming, so what better way to pander to the largely morally conservative voters than to fuck over the most vulnerable and marginalized communities
— aisar (@tsaraisar) October 29, 2022
Meanwhile, incumbent Klang MP Charles Santiago chimed in, saying that the raid only shows that the already marginalised LGBTQ+ community continues to be the scapegoat of authorities by being harassed once again.
“We have people who are still reeling from job losses, the ringgit is weak, and the economy needs resuscitation, but you use your resources to go after people who were at a Halloween party?
“These targeted persecutions against the LGBTQ+ community have the potential to trigger hate crimes, which we have seen in Malaysia.
“I urge authorities to cease hunting them down as if they are criminals,” he said in a Twitter thread in response to the incident.
The REXKL raid clearly shows that the LGBTQ+ community continues to be targeted by authorities. This is harassment against a marginalised community. When will we learn to respect and accept people for who they are? (1/4) https://t.co/Czg0dMX2ZR
— Charles Santiago (@mpklang) October 30, 2022
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Youth also responded to the issue, expressing its solidarity with the partygoers, and demanding that acts of discrimination towards the community come to an end.
“Not only is the raid at RexKL a clear attack on the LGBT+ community, it also highlights the role the state plays when it chooses to use repressive apparatus to persecute marginalised groups in this country.”
Not only is the raid at #REXKL a clear attack on the LGBT+ community, it also highlights the role the state plays when it chooses to use repressive apparatuses to persecute marginalised groups in this country.
— Pemuda Sosialis (@pemudaPSM) October 29, 2022
PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan said she immediately went to the venue after receiving messages from individuals who were inside, and waited until everyone made bail and went home.
“To me, (it is) never political suicide, [it is] about freedom and fundamental rights,” she said in her tweet.
I went there straight away after received message from people who are inside. Waited untill everyone bailed and home. To me, is never a political suicide, is about freedom and fundamental rights
— Chong Yee Shan 张玉珊 (@yeeshan_13) October 29, 2022
#Shagrilla #RexKL https://t.co/PrOcVJ0sWu
Nonetheless, a number of Twitter users commended the actions of police and the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) for “eradicating viruses within the society”.
Last night, a Halloween-themed party in RexKL was raided by police, where a number of the patrons were cross-dressing in light of the celebration’s theme.
Some of the attendees, including drag queens, were arrested and taken away to the Jawi office for further investigation. – The Vibes, October 30, 2022
