Latest news with #PrideCare
New York Times
4 hours ago
- General
- New York Times
Gay-Themed Forum Is Canceled in Malaysia
A planned forum on L.G.B.T.Q.-related themes in Malaysia was indefinitely postponed after online attacks by the public and harsh criticism by a government official. It's the latest instance of how the government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has taken a harder line in an effort to shore up support among the country's Muslim majority. Malaysia's Parliament now includes the conservative Islamist party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia, which is the largest party in the lower house. Its growing influence has increased pressure on the government to adopt more conservative positions, with the party accusing Mr. Anwar's administration of failing to safeguard Islamic values. In the past, Mr. Anwar has expressed a degree of tolerance toward the L.G.B.T.Q. community. 'Muslims and non-Muslims alike, there is a consensus — they do not accept this,' he said in a 2023 interview with CNN, referring to public displays of affection by gay people. 'But do we then go and harass them? That is a different subject. I do not approve of any attempt to harass.' The workshop, titled 'Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness' and organized by the youth wing of a small opposition party, was to take place next month. Efforts to publicize the event on social media quickly went viral, prompting hateful comments and death threats by the public. Many posts tagged the Royal Malaysian Police, urging them to investigate the event. On Wednesday, Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, the government's religious affairs minister, described the planned gathering as a promotion of 'deviant culture.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNA
2 days ago
- General
- CNA
Malaysia minister seeks police probe on upcoming LGBTQ event, says it ‘violates moral values'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister has called for a police probe on a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)-themed event planned for next month, reiterating the government's stance against efforts to normalise what he called 'deviant' lifestyles. The event, called 'Pride Care: Queer Stories and Sexual Health Awareness', is organised by the youth wing of the Socialist Party of Malaysia – or Parti Sosialis Malaysia – and scheduled to take place in Petaling Jaya on Jun 21. Minister Mohd Na'im Mokhtar on Wednesday (May 28) urged the authorities, including the Royal Malaysia Police, to investigate and take action should there be any breach of the law, national news agency Bernama reported. In a statement on Facebook, Na'im called on the organisers to immediately cease all activities that 'violate the law and moral values of society'. 'The organisation of such programmes, even if held behind closed doors, clearly challenges societal norms and religious values upheld by the majority of Malaysians,' he said. Parti Sosialis Malaysia's youth wing had posted on Monday on social media platform X that it would be hosting its 'very first queer-centred event' on Jun 21. The party was registered in 2008 and member Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj held a parliamentary seat from 2008 to 2018 under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat's banner. But Parti Sosialis Malaysia suffered defeat in the 2018 general election when it ran under its own banner. 'A 'by queers, for queers' initiative that shines a spotlight on the shared reality of living as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in this country,' the youth wing wrote. It said the event would feature a forum and a presentation on sexual health awareness, and the venue would be disclosed five days in advance. In the wake of the post, some netizens urged the authorities to take action. Minister Na'im said Malaysia's Islamic development department (JAKIM) and state religious departments are ready to enforce regulations, especially if the event involves Muslim participants. 'At the same time, I call on all parties to help defend our society's social and moral structure from any elements that could undermine our faith, ethics and national harmony,' he said in his statement. MALAYSIA'S CLAMPDOWN ON PRIDE CULTURE This is not the first time controversy has erupted over LGBTQ-related matters in the country. In May 2023, the Home Affairs Ministry seized 172 Swatch rainbow watches from 11 shopping malls across the country for allegedly promoting LGBTQ values. The Swiss watchmaker filed, and won, a lawsuit against the government. Last November, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh said the Home Ministry's raid of Swatch stores and seizure of its watches were illegal as they were made without a warrant. He ordered that the seized watches be returned. In 2023, Malaysia also halted a music festival in Kuala Lumpur after the frontman of British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticised the country's anti-LGBTQ laws. On Wednesday, Na'im said the government remains committed to upholding the Islamic principles in national governance to protect religion, morality and human dignity. 'Deviant cultures will never be accepted as the norm in Malaysia,' he said.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia rejects LGBTQ culture, orders probe into pride event
Any effort to normalise LGBTQ is against the Federal Constitution, existing laws and official policy, said a minister. PHOTO: REUTERS KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia said it opposes LGBTQ culture in the country and has ordered an investigation into a coming pride event that went viral on social media. Any effort to normalise LGBTQ is against the Federal Constitution, existing laws and official policy, said Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) in a statement late on May 28. Mr Naim ordered authorities, including the police, to take appropriate action should there be a breach of any law in the planned programme with the theme 'Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness.' 'Organising a programme like this, even though closed, clearly challenges social norms and religious values that the majority of Malaysians adhere to,' he said. He urged the organisers to immediately cease any activities that 'violated the nation's laws and society's moral values.' Religious agencies were prepared to take authoritative action should Muslims be involved, he added. Since taking power, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government has clamped down on pride culture in its bid to appease the country's Muslim majority. The administration confiscated rainbow-themed watches from Swatch Group AG's stores and abruptly cancelled a music festival after two band members shared a same-sex kiss on stage. 'I urge all quarters to together defend our society's social and moral structures from any elements that can hurt the country's faith, morality and harmony,' Mr Naim said on May 28. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Religious affairs minister wants Pride event cancelled
Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar urged authorities, including the police, to investigate the event and take appropriate action if any laws are found to have been violated. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar has urged the organisers of a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-themed event next month to cancel their plans and not proceed with the programme. He was responding to reports of an event themed 'Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness', allegedly planned by the youth wing of a political party on June 21, which has gone viral on social media. 'The organisation of such a programme, even if held behind closed doors, clearly challenges societal norms and the religious values upheld by the majority,' he said in a statement. Na'im urged authorities, including the police, to immediately investigate the event and take appropriate action if any laws are found to have been violated. He also said the Islamic development department (Jakim) and state religious departments are ready to enforce regulations, particularly if the event involves Muslim participants. 'At the same time, I call on all parties to help defend our society's social and moral structure from any elements that could undermine our faith, ethics, and national harmony,' he said. Na'im reiterated that the Madani government remains committed to upholding the Islamic principles in national governance to protect religion, morality, and human dignity. 'Deviant cultures will never be accepted as the norm in Malaysia,' he said.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Govt firmly opposes normalising LGBTQ culture
KUALA LUMPUR: The government rejects all attempts to normalise lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) culture, whether implicitly or openly, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar. He said that as a country which upholds Islam as the religion of the federation and adheres to noble Eastern cultural values, any attempt to normalise such deviant lifestyles is contrary to the Federal Constitution, existing laws and official government policy. "I view seriously the reports regarding the organisation of a programme themed 'Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness', which was allegedly aimed at celebrating Pride Month, as circulated on social media recently. "The organisation of such programmes, even if held behind closed doors, clearly challenges societal norms and religious values upheld by the majority of Malaysians," he said in a statement tonight. In this regard, Mohd Na'im urged the authorities, including the police, to immediately investigate the programme and take appropriate action should there be any breach of the law. He further called on the organisers to immediately cease all activities that contravene the law and moral values of society. "Religious agencies, including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and the state Islamic departments, are also urged to be ready to play their enforcement role, particularly if Muslims are involved," he said. At the same time, Mohd Na'im called on all parties to work together to safeguard the social and moral fabric of the nation from any elements that may harm the faith, morality, and harmony. "The Madani government will continue to uphold the principles of 'maqasid syariah' in national governance to preserve religion, morality, and dignity," he said, while stressing that a deviant culture will never become the norm in Malaysia.– Bernama
