Fridae

In the recent news telecast, the Malaysian police had indicated that they had identified Cheras and Dang Wangi as the top gay spot in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

In an attempt to eradicate gay activities in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Police Force had raided a club in the capital city and apparently detained 20 men including two foreigners who were believed to be involved in explicit gay activities.

Neither the police nor the local media mentioned the venue of the club and the kinds of activities implicated.

The Kuala Lumpur?s Chief of Police, Datuk Meor Chek Hussien, in his statement said, he has received reports about gay activities in the State capital and actions has long been taken against alleged illegal gay activities.

According to the police investigations, they had considered gay activities in Kuala Lumpur as something that should not be taken seriously, but actions are needed to stamp them out.

The Malaysian Police Force had long known about the existence of gay clubs and saunas. According to them, they have the full support of the Federal Territory Islamic Department and a few other government agencies to battle against what they consider as amoral activities.

The Bukit Bintang UMNO Youth Division tried to gain political mileage in this matter by insisting that they have located the existence of a gay club in Segambut and a lesbian club in Bukit Bintang. They claimed to uncover at least 10 rooms used by gays in Segambut and there are many similar clubs in Bukit Bintang used by lesbians and gays as their meeting point.

There are even talks to establish a Special Squad to eradicate this ?social problem? by assisting the police to obtain correct information about gay activities in Kuala Lumpur.

Under Malaysian law "sodomy" is illegal. Under the law, article 377B of the Penal Code, the charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail and whipping.

In 1998, a similar organisation called the People's Voluntary Anti-Homosexual Movement (Pasrah) was formed to "wipe out" gays. The organisation was quickly denounced by the human-rights group Suaram and by Marina Mahathir, daughter of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and head of the Malaysian AIDS Council.