Putrajaya’s foreign policy will give LGBT community rights, says Umno Youth leader

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 7 years ago · Published on 22 Jul 2018 7:21AM · 4 Comments

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urges the government to join his party is opposing the LGBT community. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, July 22, 2018.

THE new government needs to take a clear, official stand on the LGBTQ issue, said an Umno leader, as its foreign policy will inadvertently give the community civil and political rights.

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki made the demand yesterday as the subject is hotly debated among civil rights and Muslim groups. 

LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning or oueer.

Asyraf demanded the Dr Mahathir administration make a clear stand on LGBTQ rights given that foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah has said the government would ratify all United Nations conventions on human rights.

Two of those conventions are on political and civil rights and against all forms of racial discrimination.

Once ratified, they will allow any group in the country, including LGBTQ individuals to claim those rights, Asyraf said.

 “This is why we the (previous) Barisan Nasional government did not want to ratify these conventions as they can run counter to our local customs,” said Asyraf, a former deputy minister for religious affairs. 

“But if we sign the conventions then we have to acknowledge LGBTQ rights in the country,” Asyraf told a forum on the future of Islam under Pakatan Harapan, in Shah Alam, last night.

PH leader Dr Abdul Aziz Bari attempted to clarify that the coalition did not have a stand on the matter as it was not mentioned in the manifesto.

Aziz, who is a Perak exco, said any statement from PH leaders in support of LGBTQ were made in their personal capacities.

“They do not represent the government,” said the Tebing Tinggi assemblyman.

Klang MP Charles Santiago and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei had voiced support for Numan Afifi, an aide to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who had resigned following a vicious anti-LGBTQ social media campaign by religious groups.

Some Muslim leaders such as Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs have, however, spoken out against LGBTQ discrimination.

The PH government has not taken an official stand on the rights of the community in Malaysia. 

At last night’s forum, Asyraf was critical of Aziz’s vague explanation.

“What’s so hard about stating clearly that you don’t accept LGBTQs? Don’t be wishy-washy about it. Just state that you will join us in opposing LGBTs.” – July 22, 2018.
 

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Comments

  • Many Malaysians, LGBTQ or not, is our citizen, with their rightful civil rights, with their voting power of political rights, what is it that giving them? You do not strip away their rights!

    Posted 7 years ago by Wilfred Lim · Reply

  • Discrimination in various fields, be in language, education, religion and culture, seems an instinct of UMNO, the most distasteful crime against human rights and equality..

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Asyraf, mereka LGBTQ tu manusia dan ciptaan Tuhan bukan?

    Posted 7 years ago by Philip chong · Reply

  • Objections to signing human rights charters on the basis of LGBTQ humans might be given rights as well makes me wonder about the local culture that is so much more important than the basic all are equal before the law. As it stands grave injustice is being suffered by all the population through the lack of protection provided for in these conventions. So much for compassionate and just Islam.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply