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

Raids on men-only saunas and spas across Malaysia have raised fears of an intensifying crackdown on LGBTQ communities, in what activists view as a steadily illiberal turn under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

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.

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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.