Dang Wangi police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said that the police, Jawi and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers, conducted a joint raid at an entertainment centre at Jalan Sultan – where checks were conducted on 62 individuals.

He said that the 20 men, aged 22 to 34, will be investigated under Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act.

The section states that any man who wears a woman’s attire in public and poses as a woman for immoral purposes shall be guilty of an offence.

If found guilty, they are liable to a fine of not more than RM1,000, a one-year jail term, or both.

Meanwhile, Noor Dellhan said two of the 62 individuals checked during the raid tested positive for cannabis.

“We will increase our operations and inspections at entertainment centres, as well as monitor activities in clubs that clearly do not comply with provisions of the law,” said Noor Dellhan.

In a Twitter post, former Klang MP Charles Santiago urged the authorities to stop targeting the marginalised LGBTQ+ community.

“This targeted persecution against the LGBTQ+ community has the potential to trigger hate crimes, which we have seen happen in Malaysia,” he said.

“I urge authorities to cease hunting them down as if they are criminals.”