Raids on men-only spas in Malaysia raise concerns about targeting of LGBTQ groups

While officials defend such operations as necessary to uphold Malaysian law and Islamic principles, rights advocates said the latest raids fit a pattern of punitive policing that is driving gay communities further underground and deterring them from seeking health services.

On Friday night, Kuala Lumpur police led a joint operation with City Hall and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) at a men-only spa in the city centre, arresting more than 200 patrons after two weeks of surveillance.

Police said the spa had been operating for about eight months, charging a 10-ringgit (US$2.40) lifetime registration fee and 35 ringgit per visit, and promoting itself on social media.

Although the venue never explicitly advertised themselves as a “gay sauna”, officials said it was widely perceived as such based on how it operated. Police told reporters they found condoms and other items indicating alleged sexual activity on site.