SHAH ALAM - The organiser of the Glamping with Pride programme has cancelled the event scheduled for Jan 18 and 19, citing serious safety concerns following threats and intimidation received in recent days.
In a statement, the organiser said the decision was made after the security situation escalated, with threats allegedly directed at the organiser, participants and partner organisations. The threats, it said, have been documented and reported to the authorities.
The organiser claimed that the cancellation was not due to the programme contravening any laws, but because the prevailing environment had become unsafe.
“This programme was not cancelled because it was unlawful, but because reckless rhetoric, misinformation and fear-mongering created an unsafe situation. When words are used irresponsibly, they ensure consequences and in this case, lives were placed at risk,” the statement said.
The organiser said interest in the programme rose from 14 registered participants to about 50 people expressing interest within a few days, but escalating threats deprived participants of a safe environment to take part in the health education initiative.
Describing Glamping with Pride as a closed, educational and health-focused community programme, the organiser said it remains committed to continuing health education and community support efforts in safer and more responsible ways.
Previously, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, ordered firm action against any activities linked to the Glamping with Pride programme, which has been associated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The event was reportedly planned to take place in Hulu Langat.
In a statement posted on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page, Sultan Sharafuddin expressed strong opposition to the organisation of LGBT-related activities in the state, stressing that such acts contradict religious teachings and social norms.
Meanwhile, villagers in the area lodged police reports today against the planned camping programme, alleging it promoted deviant social practices.
Ikatan Perpaduan Melayu Islam Hulu Langat (Ikatan) chairman Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahman said the group strongly opposed the programme, describing it as insensitive to the area’s predominantly Muslim population.
“The organisation of this programme not only challenges societal norms but is also seen as an open insult to the sanctity of Islam and the dignity of the Malay community, which forms the core of the local population in Hulu Langat,” he reportedly said.