Putrajaya Rep To UN: LGBT Community Is Treated Equally In Malaysia
“We are open to dialogue and suggestions.”
By Jia Vern Tham — 21 Feb 2018, 02:28 PM
Yesterday, 20 February, Putrajaya representatives claimed that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is being treated "equally" at a United Nations (UN) convention in Geneva, Switzerland
According to Malay Mail Online, Malaysia's 24-member delegation to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in its 69th session, were asked about how the country's laws can protect the LGBT while the community is criminalised.
In response, secretary-general of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Suriani Ahmad said the LGBT community is treated "equally as per other genders".
"We are open to dialogue and suggestions," she added.
However, the Malaysian delegate could not respond to the committee when they were questioned on how LGBT students are being protected in schools
Malay Mail Online reported that the delegate went on to claim LGBT students have "equal rights and protection" when pressed for an answer regarding concerns over rape, stalking, harassment, and intimidation of those students.
On top of that, CEDAW member Bandana Rana also urged Malaysia to be more "diligent in their reporting" regarding the country's progress in women's rights
This is only the second time after 12 years that Malaysia's progress in women's rights was reviewed, despite having acceded to CEDAW back in 1995.
"Timely, comprehensive reports are an important part of state obligation," Bandana added.
While the delegate provided those statements to the UN, a local Islamic religious teacher called on the government to adopt North Korea's strict Internet control to "handle" the LGBT community
Sinar Harian reported that Ustaz Hanafiah Abdul Malek urged the government to adopt North Korea's tight control of the Internet, such as stricter monitoring of websites and restricting access to only a few websites, to curb the LGBT movement.
He emphasised that the move is necessary for Malaysia to constrain this "deviant behaviour".
According to Hanafiah, WeChat is the most dangerous application in causing the LGBT community to grow.
"Using the 'touch & go' concept, they have sex and illegitimate children are born," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
Hanafiah also expressed concern over the strength of the LGBT community, saying that it now dares to challenge national institutions and wants to change the country's Constitution.