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Melaka hotel listed as 'gay-friendly' raided by M'sia authorities, license withdrawn
The hotel listing was first brought to light in an Instagram post by a local preacher.
January 14, 2026, 11:41 AM
A hotel in Melaka has had its operating licence withdrawn following an enforcement raid, after allegations surfaced that it had marketed itself as a “gay-friendly” establishment on its website.
The claims were first highlighted on social media by independent preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung.
Claim raised online
The issue first came to public attention after Firdaus shared a post on his Instagram pointing out that a hotel in Melaka appeared to list itself as “gay-friendly” among its facilities.
He wrote, describing the branding as “quite creative”:
“Besides pet-friendly malls, Malaysia also has family-friendly, child-friendly and most recently, a ‘gay-friendly’ hotel in Melaka.”
He added that even a “Muslim-friendly” label could be turned into a business, and questioned what other labels might come next.
Screenshots shared alongside his post showed the hotel’s website listing “gay-friendly” among its facilities.
Following the post, the issue drew widespread attention and comments from social media users, prompting Malaysian state authorities to take action.
Raid and licence withdrawal
Melaka religious affairs executive councillor Rahmad Mariman said the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) and the Melaka Religious Affairs Department (JAIM) carried out a joint enforcement operation at a 37-room hotel in Bachang at about 10:45am on Tuesday (Jan 13), reported The Star.
MPHTJ seized the hotel’s operating licence after the raid because the owner was not present during the operation.
He added, according to Free Malaysia Today:
“The hotel has been ordered to close for a day, with its owner summoned to MPHTJ to provide an explanation.
If the explanation is satisfactory, the licence will be returned, but action will be taken if it is not.”
What officers found inside
According to the religious affairs executive councillor, enforcement officers inspected all 37 rooms at the hotel.
He said only one room appeared to have been used, and it was found unlocked with the bed unmade.
The unlocked room was found in disarray, with two towels hung up and two boxes of condoms in a rubbish bin, but officers were unable to locate the guests who had booked it.
The remaining 36 rooms were empty at the time of the raid.
Raid conducted under Syariah law
Rahmad said the operation was conducted under the Syariah Criminal Offences (State of Melaka) Enactment 1991, involving provisions related to sodomy, attempted sodomy and “unnatural sexual relations”.
He said these offences carry penalties of a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to 36 months, or both, upon conviction.
However, in a later update, it was reported that inspections had not uncovered any clear breach of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment during the operation itself.
Top images via firdauswong/Instagram, Oriental Daily
