MOH affirms event in K'tan raided hours after was NGO health programme

(Editor’s note: This article has been amended to better reflect the Health Ministry's position. Any error is regretted.)

The Health Ministry has affirmed that an event in Kelantan last month that has been the subject of controversy was indeed a health outreach programme by an NGO focusing on HIV, which it supported.

However, the ministry made no comments regarding the police raid.

The police said they had made the raid - which occurred after the event was supposed to end - on the pretext that it was a gay party.

The affirmation came in the form of a reply from Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad on X last night, to another post asking him and the ministry to defend the HIV outreach programme.

In his response, Dzulkefly posted an English translation of a statement issued by Kelantan Health director Dr Zaini Hussin yesterday, which he also attached, commenting on the programme.

In it, Zaini said the programme was done by a local NGO, Sahabat, which is overseen by the Malaysian Aids Foundation.

He said Sahabat has been a strategic partner with the Kelantan Health Department since 2006 in carrying out health education programmes and field activities that target high-risk groups, including intravenous drug users and men who have sex with men.

This is to increase awareness about HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and Hepatitis C.

He also said that collaboration between the Health Ministry, state health departments, and health NGOs is important in approaching high-risk groups to increase their awareness about prevention strategies, the importance of early diagnosis, and the benefits of early treatment.

“The Health Ministry remains committed to a public health approach that prioritises disease prevention, early intervention, and access to treatment for all, in line with the country’s health policy according to religious values and cultural sensitivity,” he added.

‘Gay party’ raided

On June 17, police had raided the event at 1am and seized HIV medication and condoms.

Last week, Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat claimed the operation was conducted based on public information and intelligence gathered by a special team following complaints about a food-themed gathering believed to be organised specifically for the gay community.

However, several NGOs have pushed back against attempts to paint the event as a “gay party”.

Instead, they said the event provided sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual health practices.

Further, the Malaysian Aids Council, which was also involved, said the session extended beyond midnight as HIV testing was done confidentially and professionally, requiring about 10 to 15 minutes per client. Those with reactive results were counselled and referred for follow-up.

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