MELAKA: Three young men were arrested here after allegedly engaging in group same-sex activities, says Datuk Rahmad Mariman.
The Melaka education, higher education, and religious affairs committee chairman said that the suspects, aged 21, 24, and 26, were detained by enforcement officers from the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) with the assistance of police cooperation at 1.30pm on Thursday (July 31).
"The arrests were made following investigations supported by photographic and video evidence.
"The trio's actions were documented through images and recordings of the alleged acts involving all three individuals,” he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 1).
Rahmad described the act as a violation of syariah law.
"Such practices are against Islamic teachings,” he said, adding that mobile phones belonging to the suspects had been confiscated and are now part of the evidence.
Rahmad also cited public health concerns, with data from the Melaka Health Department showing a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, AIDS, chancroid, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
“Of the 3,185 HIV cases reported in 2024, about 2,037 or 64% were transmitted through homosexual and bisexual relations,” he said.
Rahmad noted that the enforcement operation was carried out under the provisions of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Melaka) 1991.
