Tier 4 · Criminalized or dangerous
Malaysia
Federal Section 377 plus state Sharia; arrests and caning reported in 2025.
- Same-sex activity
- Illegal
- Recognition
- No legal recognition
- Death penalty
- No
- Region
- Asia
- Confidence
- High
- Reviewed
- September 2026
Travel advice
Avoid open conduct and any public affection. In death-penalty jurisdictions do not travel openly as a couple, and check FCDO or State Department advice before any trip.
Check the UK FCDO or US State Department advice before you book.
Where the boys go
Kuala Lumpur: discreet only.
Method
Tiered on the legal status and social acceptance of gay men and LGB people using ILGA World, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Dignity Trust, the Williams Institute, Pew, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Equaldex and court rulings. Where two tiers are plausible we choose the more cautious one. How we tier. Last reviewed September 2026.