Selangor says no permits issued for LGBTQ-linked retreat even as organiser cancels event ‘on safety grounds’

KUALA LUMPUR: Amid backlash against a camping retreat organised by a pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocacy group, Malaysian authorities said that no permits would be issued for such activities even as its organiser announced on Tuesday (Jan 13) of the event’s cancellation due to safety concerns. 

The two-day “Glamping with Pride” event - organised by pro-LGBTQ advocacy group Jejaka - was slated to take place in the Hulu Langat district of Selangor from Jan 17 to 18. 

The planned event also caught the attention of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who on Monday ordered “firm action” against any activities linked to the retreat. 

Jejaka had described the programme as a private community gathering focused on health, well-being and HIV awareness. However, the event drew criticism after its poster circulated online in recent weeks.

Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari on Tuesday said that while glamping activities were not prohibited, restrictions are in place with regards to the permits applied to events involving LGBTQ elements, noting a directive from the state’s ruler. 

“I believe His Royal Highness' directive is not overly rigid, but it is aimed at activities considered immoral and unacceptable, which I am certain many Malaysians oppose,” he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times. 

“I don’t think such activities will take place but if organisers persist, I urge the authorities to take action.” 

In a Facebook post by the Selangor Royal Office on Monday, Sultan Sharafuddin said that he opposed any deviant LGBTQ activities in the state, adding that while such acts involved individual sins and went beyond natural order, they could invite “wrath and curse” upon the state. 

Sultan Sharafuddin’s directive was also conveyed to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council chairman Salehuddin Saidin and the state’s mufti Anhar Opir at Bukit Kayangan Palace in Shah Alam on Monday.

Following the decree, both Salehuddin and Anhar also issued a joint statement, saying that Sultan Sharafuddin does not consent to the establishment of any associations, clubs, organisations or non-governmental organisations linked to LGBTQ activities in the state.

The statement added that any effort to promote or normalise LGBTQ practices contradicts the objectives of Islamic law and poses a threat to Islamic faith.

The Selangor religious council and mufti also urged all parties to uphold the sanctity of Islam to ensure the state remains harmonious and free from practices deemed contrary to Islamic teachings.

Earlier, Malaysia’s Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Monday that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) will work with the relevant authorities to ensure that “Glamping with Pride” does not continue.

The police have received at least five reports related to the advertisement of the programme, local media reported. 

Separately, Selangor state executive councillor for Islamic Affairs and Innovation Mohammad Fahmi Ngah has said that local authorities have yet to receive any permit application from Jejaka, the event organiser. 

Jejaka on Tuesday said that the venue owner has cancelled its booking “on safety grounds” after the group had received explicit threats, including death threats, through social media. 

“This programme was not cancelled because it was unlawful or otherwise, but because an environment was created in which reckless rhetoric, misinformation and fear-mongering made it unsafe for people to gather,” read a statement by Jejaka. 

Jejaka added that the cancellation of the event had denied around 50 interested participants, up from the 14 who had initially registered, a “safe opportunity” to learn about health, well-being and community care in Malaysia’s natural environment. 

The group also slammed authorities, institutions, and public figures for failing to de-escalate tensions or reaffirm protection for minorities, saying that silence or ambiguity in the face of threats normalises intimidation.

“This decision was made to protect lives, not to concede legitimacy to fear, intimidation or hate. Our work in health education, community support and the defence of dignity and human rights will continue in safe, responsible forms,” it added.