LGBT groups entitled to equal rights as citizens in Malaysia, says Minister

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa has said to the Dewan Rakyat, as reported in Bernama, that LGBT groups are entitled to equal rights as citizens and should not be discriminated against in any form, including at work as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"In other words, they cannot be repressed, persecuted and mistreated at work," he said, as cited by Bernama.

Having said that, he has also pointed out that LGBT groups are not allowed to practise their lifestyle in Malaysia, in accordance with Section 377A of the Penal Code; as well as the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment at the state level.

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This statement was in response to Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut) who wanted to know the government’s action against the spread of the LGBT culture, Datuk Mujahid said: “The rights of the LGBT community to practise their lifestyle is still subject to the law that does not allow it in Malaysia.”

Minister Mujahid has previously commented on the matter relating to that Numan Afifi was pressured to step down as Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman’s interim press officer.

"As far as (Malaysian) citizens are concerned, they cannot be discriminated against at their workplace. They cannot be deprived of justice," he had said, as reported in New Straits Times, adding that doing so must not against the values and laws of Malaysia.

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