WHILE the government does not support LGBT activities, it will not force religious teachings on the community, said Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus.

The Hulu Langat MP disagrees with the view that the Pakatan Harapan administration is “apologetic” when it comes to issues relating to the LGBT and Shia communities.

“I do not agree with the view that we are being apologetic. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa and I have stressed that we are against LGBT activities.

“We won’t allow gay marriages in the country, and we are firm on this,” he said at a forum organised by Sinar Harian in Shah Alam today.

However, he said, they acknowledge some psychologists’ claim that the behaviour of “sexual minorities” is due to a medical condition.

“We also know that it has become a trend, so we will address the matter thoroughly.”

He lauded the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for its efforts in handling such issues.

“They (Jakim) have urged these minorities to come forward, and helped them tackle their problems.”

Hasanuddin said the PH government’s preferred means of resolving issues is via negotiations between all parties involved.

He said the government will not force Islamic teachings on people.

“There are different approaches, and we want to make non-Muslims see the beauty of Islam without forcing the religion’s values on them.”

Mujahid recently said those who identified as LGBT should not be discriminated against at the workplace.

His comments came after the resignation of a former aide to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman due to pressure from critics over his LGBT activism.

Perlis Mufti Asri Zainul Abidin had said it was wrong to deny members of the LGBT community their rights. – July 27, 2018.