Two foreigners, aged 66 and 70, who were allegedly engaged in indecent and obscene behaviour during the 2024 Pan Asia International Run event in Kota Tinggi on Friday will be charged in the Kota Tinggi Sessions Court today.

In a statement today, Johor police chief M Kumar said investigation papers have been referred to the state public prosecutor yesterday for further action.

“And we were told the individuals involved would be charged under Section 294(a) of the Penal Code for public indecency.

“It carries a maximum of three months’ imprisonment, a fine, or both,” he stated.

Yesterday, it was reported that the “Red Dress Run” was a global Hash House Harriers tradition since 1968, where participants wear red-themed attire.

However, in Kota Tinggi, three participants reportedly drew attention for their unconventional outfits - a Taiwanese man in traditional attire, an Indian national wearing a saree with a saree blouse, and a local man in a housecoat.

The Taiwanese participant was said to have been shirtless, and his outfit exposed his buttocks.

Following public outcry, the Johor police arrested three individuals, two foreigners and one local, to assist in the investigation into the incident.

Among the items seized were a red saree, a red skirt, three pieces of silver-coloured cardboard and a silver imitation spear, believed to have been used as costumes during the run.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the actions of the three men were conducted independently and not connected to the event’s organisers or the programme itself,” Kumar was reported as saying yesterday.

Purely a charity event

He added that the police also found the organiser was neither promoting nor in support of elements that could incite public outcry.

All three tested negative for drugs and none had prior criminal records.

Subsequently, Johor Bahru Hash House Harriers president A Magendran denied allegations that the event was to promote any form of sexual-related elements.

“The run was purely for fun and charity. We are neither against nor in support of any sexual groups or individuals - it was simply a run,” New Straits Times quoted him as saying.

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