Malaysian police have arrested at least 51 men following a series of raids connected to what authorities described as a drug-fuelled “gay party” at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The raids took place on Sunday, 24 May.
Narcotics department director Hussein Omar Khan said on Monday, 25 May, that the men arrested were aged between 21 and 52.
He said 28 foreign nationals were among those detained, and that drugs including MDMA, ketamine and ecstasy were allegedly seized during the operation.
Man reportedly found unconscious
The raids followed reports that one man believed to have attended the gathering was found unconscious in the hotel lobby.
He was later pronounced dead after arriving at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, according to The Independent.
Police have not released details about the cause of death.
Authorities said 36 of the detained men tested positive for drugs and remain under investigation under Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act.
LGBTQ+ people face criminalisation
Homosexuality remains criminalised in Malaysia, where same-sex acts and cross-dressing are banned under both civil and Islamic laws as part of the country’s dual-track legal system.
Rights groups have repeatedly warned of increasing pressure and intolerance towards LGBTQ+ people in Malaysia.
The arrests follow a high-profile 2025 raid in which 171 people were detained on suspicion of same-sex activity.
Those detained in that case were later released without charge after authorities said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them.
For LGBTQ+ advocates, the latest arrests are likely to deepen concerns about policing, privacy, criminalisation and the vulnerability of queer communities in Malaysia.
