No permit and lewd dressing: What happened at the Pan Asia Hash 2024 run?

The Pan Asia Hash 2024 fun run organised by Johor Bahru Hash House Harriers took a turn over the weekend when several participants were arrested for allegedly engaging in "indecent and lewd behaviour" during the run according to media reports. 

The arrested participants included five local men and foreigners aged between 39 and 70, reported New Straits Times. The men were allegedly cross-dressing with one participant seen wearing a saree and another in a housecoat. One other participant was also reportedly seen running in traditional wear that exposed his butt cheeks. 

Videos posted online reportedly sparked outrage with users expressing discontent over the participants' attire which suggested the involvement of LGBTQ+ individuals. Speaking to New Straits Times, Johor Bahru Hash House Harriers president A. Magendran, said the event was intended for charity and not to promote any form of sexuality. 

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Magendran reportedly clarified that the participants were not cross-dressing to promote or support LGBTQ+ causes. He added that the event was simply a run that is neither against nor in support of any sexual groups or individuals. Instead, the event was meant to showcase Johor's attractions, particularly Desaru, to the runners. 

Magendran reportedly said that the run has raised RM10,100 so far. The funds will be donated to children with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy through the association in Johor Bahru. 

He added that the run's chapter in Johor Bahru had never faced issues with authorities before and that the team will be fully cooperating with the police with its investigations. 

Checks by A+M revealed that the fun run, held from 4 to 6 October, was called 'Red Dress Run' where participants were encouraged to wear red. It is also part of a worldwide phenomenon which originated from the San Diego Hash House Harriers in 1987. Chapters of the Pan Asia Hash run has been held in other Asian countries too, including Korea in 2017. 

A+M has reached out to the Johor Bahru Hash House Harriers for a statement. 

Following the incident, numerous state councils have come forward to express their concerns. The Pengerang Muncipal Council on Facebook said that the organisers failed to notify the council or obtain the necessary permits for the event. This constitutes a violation of the Local Government Act 1976 and other applicable bylaws, it said. 

The statement added that any legal violations, including organising activities without permits, will face enforcement action by the Pengerang Municipal Council.

The Pengerang Municipal Council will also not tolerate or grant exemptions for any events that fail to respect the sensitivities of Islam within the council's jurisdiction, the statement read.

At the same time, the council urged event organisers to seek proper authorisation from local authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In addition, the regent of Johor, Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said the state has "zero tolerance". In an X post, Ibrahim said that action has been taken and the culprits have been arrested. 

Meanwhile, head of Johor Bahru state, Onn Hafiz Bin Ghazi has released a statement emphasising that the event was not held by the state government nor any government agency in the state of Johor. 

He added that the government will not be tolerant of any party for organising events that do not protect the sensitivities of Islam in the state of Johor. The state of Johor will also be taking firm action against any party that organises events that trigger issues that threaten the harmony and sovereignty of the Islamic religion and bring down the reputation of the state of Johor as a whole, said Onn in his statement. 

The run isn't the only incident to have allegedly been insensitive towards the Malay-Muslim majority in Malaysia. Earlier in March, KK Mart drew ire when it sold socks with the word 'Allah' on it.

In response to the incident, KK Super Mart issued a statement on Facebook apologising for selling the offensive socks.

Following which, government and royal officials including the King, the Regent of Johor Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia's religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar and UMNO youth chief Akmal Saleh made comments requesting the government to take action, and consumers to boycott the store, amongst many others.

In April, Chai Kee Kan, the owner of KK Mart, apologised to the King of Malaysia and to Muslims in Malaysia who were offended by the socks. 

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