Police arrest 201 men in Kuala Lumpur raid on male-only wellness centre amid rights-group condemnation

MALAYSIA: A total of 201 men were arrested during a joint enforcement operation carried out in the evening of 28 November at a wellness centre along Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur.

The raid was the culmination of a two-week intelligence-gathering effort by the police, City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), following public complaints alleging that immoral activities were taking place on the premises.

The two-storey establishment, outwardly presented as a health and wellness centre, was equipped with a gym, sauna, spa facilities, a swimming pool and designated rest areas marketed exclusively to male patrons.

Civil Servants, deputy public prosecutor, surgeon among the arrested

Those detained ranged from 19 to 60 years old, with authorities confirming that 17 of them were civil servants, including a surgeon, a deputy public prosecutor, a PTD officer, a teacher and several enforcement officials.

The detainees also included foreign nationals from South Korea, Indonesia, Germany and China.

According to police, the operators charged a lifetime registration fee and per-visit admission, allegedly using social media to attract patrons and promote the venue’s environment and services.

Procedural Delay Leads to Release of 171 Malaysians

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus later confirmed that 171 Malaysians were released after a magistrate rejected a late remand application.

The delay, he said, stemmed from the sheer logistical challenge of processing more than 200 individuals, each of whom had to be classified separately.

Only 31 foreign nationals lacking proper identification were remanded under the Immigration Act.

Police added that investigations found no substantive evidence to support charges under Sections 377 or 372 of the Penal Code, noting that no individual claimed to be a victim — a legal requirement for such offences.

Privacy Violations and Criminalisation Concerns

Jawi separately detained 80 Muslim men under the Syariah Criminal Offences Act.

Justice for Sisters, an LGBTIQ and gender-diverse human rights group, condemned the raid, stating that it reinforced longstanding discrimination against the community.

The spokesperson strongly disputed the claim that police acted purely on public complaints, arguing that authorities must evaluate prejudicial motives behind such reports due to widespread anti-LGBTQ discrimination in Malaysia.

The group said that targeting the centre because its clientele were perceived to be gay, bisexual, queer or men who have sex with men amounted to discriminatory enforcement.

The organisation emphasised that detainees were hauled up from saunas, gyms and pools, actions it described as a severe violation of privacy.

It warned that laws such as Section 377 and vague Syariah provisions enable intrusive policing of private lives based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, contributing to impunity and victimisation.

Impact on HIV Response and Public Health

Justice for Sisters also warned that the raid undermines Malaysia’s efforts to end HIV by 2030.

 Health centres and social spaces, they said, are essential for outreach and safe engagement with key populations.

Citing its own surveys, the group noted that previous raids significantly reduced trust in authorities, discouraging community members from attending health programmes. International evidence from UNAIDS was referenced, showing poorer HIV outcomes in countries that criminalise LGBTQ people.

The group called for all detainees to be released without charge, and urged the Ministry of Health and Suhakam to investigate the human-rights and public-health implications of the raid.