{"id":42532,"date":"2025-12-11T11:09:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T03:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/?p=42532"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:28:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T03:28:59","slug":"call-for-independent-investigation-into-human-rights-violations-and-public-health-impact-of-health-centre-raid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/2025\/12\/42532.html","title":{"rendered":"Call for Independent Investigation Into Human Rights Violations and Public Health Impact of Health Centre Raid"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are alarmed by the many violations of human rights and due process during the raid of Kuala Lumpur health centre Otot2 and the arrest of the 202 men in the premise, conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) with other agencies, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Federal Territory Islamic Department (JAWI) on 28 Nov 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Human rights violations<\/b><\/p>\n

According to documentation by human rights groups, detainees reported serious mistreatment throughout the raid, arrest, and detention. These accounts indicate 11 major human rights violations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Violation of right to due process and detainees\u2019s rights;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Biased and intimidating statement-taking questions and process;<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Poor management of the detainees;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Poor condition of the detention area, sleep deprivation and access to toilets;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Lack of adequate food or water for detainees while in police custody;<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Lack of access to medical attention and medicine, as well as forcible disclosure of HIV status;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Unnecessary physical force and other forms of aggression;<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Verbal and psychological abuse;<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Sexual harassment and degrading treatment of the detainees;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Unnecessary inspection of phones; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Corruption.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These violations highlight serious breaches of constitutionally protected and internationally recognised human rights, and the lack of basic fairness and professionalism expected of law-enforcement agencies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The treatment of the detainees in police custody violated rules safeguarded under the <\/span>Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment <\/span><\/a>and the Nelson Mandela Rules.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Transparency and accountability of law enforcement<\/b><\/p>\n

    The detainees\u2019 right to dignity was severely violated because of their actual and perceived sexual orientation. We urge PDRM to uphold the rule of law, comply with the Criminal Procedure Code, and conduct all investigations with professionalism and respect for human rights, free from prejudice, moral judgment, or bias based on sexual orientation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Law-enforcement powers are granted and limited by law; officers must therefore carry out investigations with professionalism and impartiality, while upholding the dignity of detainees, who are innocent until proven guilty according to the law. It is also imperative for the police to perform their duties in a manner that maintains public trust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    We call on the <\/span>Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to launch an immediate, independent, and impartial assessment and investigation<\/b> into the conduct of the relevant agencies throughout the raid, arrest, processing, and the prolonged detention after the magistrate denied the remand extension on the evening of November 29, 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Impact of the raid on public health progress<\/b><\/p>\n

    The raid resulted in severe public health impact. Many have reported increased strain on their mental health, including suicidal ideation and severe psychological distress. This has severely impacted their ability to perform daily tasks, including eating, working, sleeping, and seeking treatment, among others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    When safer sex tools, such as condoms or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), are used to insinuate criminal acts, this effectively jeopardises national public health progress.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    A <\/span>previous survey<\/span><\/a> conducted by Justice for Sisters (JFS) revealed that\u00a0 61% of survey respondents felt unsafe attending government or NGO-organised health programs following the raid of a health event in Kelantan. Meanwhile, <\/span>UNAIDS\u2019s research<\/span><\/a> indicates that HIV prevalence is 5 to 12 times higher in countries that criminalise and actively prosecute people based on actual or perceived sexual orientation.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The assessment and investigation should also examine the public health and human rights impacts of the raid. We also call on <\/span>the Ministry of Health (MOH) <\/b>to review the impact of these enforcement actions on national health policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We further call on the media, public, and state actors to refrain from sensationalised reporting, public shaming, witch-hunting, or media trials that fuel discrimination and reinforce harmful stereotypes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Endorsed by :<\/b><\/p>\n

    ORGANISATIONS BASED IN MALAYSIA\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Justice for Sisters<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. JEJAKA<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. People Like Us Hang Out! (PLUHO)<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. PT Foundation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. North South Initiative\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. KLSCAH Youth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. SIUMAN Collective<\/span><\/li>\n
    8. MANDIRI<\/span><\/li>\n
    9. Sarawak AIDS Concern Society (SACS)<\/span><\/li>\n
    10. Life Under Umbrella<\/span><\/li>\n
    11. Beyond Borders Malaysia<\/span><\/li>\n
    12. Tenaganita<\/span><\/li>\n
    13. Yellow House KL<\/span><\/li>\n
    14. SEED Malaysia<\/span><\/li>\n
    15. Women\u2019s Aid Organisation (WAO)<\/span><\/li>\n
    16. Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA)<\/span><\/li>\n
    17. Kolektif Feminis Malaysia<\/span><\/li>\n
    18. HUSH Collective<\/span><\/li>\n
    19. Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (PROHAM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    20. SIS Forum (Malaysia)<\/span><\/li>\n
    21. Pertubuhan Kesihatan Dan Kebajikan Umum Malaysia (PKKUM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    22. Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services Society (KLASS)<\/span><\/li>\n
    23. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)<\/span><\/li>\n
    24. Monsters Among Us (MAU)<\/span><\/li>\n
    25. KL Queer Space<\/span><\/li>\n
    26. Women\u2019s March Malaysia (WMMY)<\/span><\/li>\n
    27. All Women\u2019s Action Society (AWAM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    28. Greater Equitable Measures (GEM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    29. Parti Sosialis Malaysia<\/span><\/li>\n
    30. Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    31. Pride Borneo<\/span><\/li>\n
    32. Legal Dignity<\/span><\/li>\n
    33. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)<\/span><\/li>\n
    34. Freedom Film Network<\/span><\/li>\n
    35. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy<\/span><\/li>\n
    36. Sisters United<\/span><\/li>\n
    37. Pride In Research\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    38. Shh\u2026Diam!<\/span><\/li>\n
    39. HAYAT<\/span><\/li>\n
    40. Refugee Emergency Fund (REF)<\/span><\/li>\n
    41. Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC)<\/span><\/li>\n
    42. Five Arts Centre\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    43. Kuala Lumpur Men\u2019s Chorus\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    44. Intan Life Zone Welfare Society<\/span><\/li>\n
    45. Sarawak Women for Women\u2019s Society (SWWS)<\/span><\/li>\n
    46. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    47. Women\u2019s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC)<\/span><\/li>\n
    48. Pemuda Sosialis<\/span><\/li>\n
    49. ReformARTsi<\/span><\/li>\n
    50. Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia (GDIMY)<\/span><\/li>\n
    51. People Like Us Support Ourselves (PLUsos)<\/span><\/li>\n
    52. Family Frontiers\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    53. Aliran<\/span><\/li>\n
    54. The Tiada.Guru Campaign<\/span><\/li>\n
    55. \u00a0Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia (FRHAM<\/span><\/li>\n
    56. Kemban Kolektif)<\/span><\/li>\n
    57. Drug Policy Program Malaysia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      REGIONAL \/ INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. APCOM Foundation<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Transhold\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Equals_Id Foundation, Indonesia<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), Philippines<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. True Colors Coalition (TCC), Philippines<\/span><\/li>\n
      7. Pesona Bumi Pasundan Foundation (Indonesia)<\/span><\/li>\n
      8. Pelangi Nusantara, Indonesia<\/span><\/li>\n
      9. ILGA Asia<\/span><\/li>\n
      10. Asia Pacific Network for Service Workers (APNSW)<\/span><\/li>\n
      11. Sanggar Swara (Indonesia)<\/span><\/li>\n
      12. IAS – the International AIDS Society<\/span><\/li>\n
      13. Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia<\/span><\/li>\n
      14. Society For Women Awareness Nepal (SWAN)<\/span><\/li>\n
      15. Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN)<\/span><\/li>\n
      16. Kahilwayan (Philippines)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        APPENDIX<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n

        A. Timeline of key events<\/strong><\/p>\n

        28 Nov, Around 8 PM:<\/strong>\u00a0Joint raid on Otot2; 202 individuals arrested and held overnight, including the owner, staff, and patrons. Detainees were denied timely access to legal counsel and communication with families. Their identities and images were leaked, leading to public humiliation and loss of jobs.<\/p>\n

        29 Nov, 8.00PM-9.30PM:\u00a0<\/strong>The police sought 7 days\u2019 remand.\u00a0 Magistrate rejects remand extension for all Malaysian detainees, thus they should have been released promptly. The foreigners were remanded for 2 days under the Immigration Act.<\/p>\n

        29\u201330 Nov:<\/strong>\u00a0Detainees continue to be held. The first Malaysian detainee was released around 7:40\u20138:00 AM on Nov 30 (10 hours after remand hearing), the last Malaysian detainee at 3:15 PM (19 hours after remand hearing).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        \n

        B. Documented Human Rights Violations<\/strong><\/p>\n

        1.\u00a0Violation of right to due process and detainees\u2019 rights<\/strong><\/p>\n