I ordered the removal of LGBT activists' portraits, says Mujahid

Yasmin Ramlan Yasmin Ramlan Updated 7 years ago · Published on 8 Aug 2018 2:51PM · 11 Comments

MINISTER in charge of religious affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa today said he ordered the removal of LGBT activists’ portraits at a George Town Festival photography exhibition.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the portraits appeared to promote LGBT activism, which is against the Pakatan Harapan government’s policy.

“To me, if you place a picture with the (LGBT) symbol, and it is written there ‘LGBT activist’, if that is not a form of promotion, then tell me, what is the definition of ‘promotion’?

“It doesn’t matter if you say (the exhibition) is to promote Merdeka icons. Is it necessary (to show) such (LGBT) icons? Don’t you have any other icon?” he said during a press conference in Parliament.

He was commenting on the removal of portraits of transgender activist Nisha Ayub and LGBT rights activist Pang Khee Teik from the “Stripes and Strokes” photography exhibition, which is part of the George Town Festival that runs from August 4 to September 2.

Their portraits were featured alongside those of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and lawyer-cum-activist Siti Kasim, in conjunction with Merdeka month.

In the portraits, Nisha and Phang posed with the national flag, in what they said was a display of their patriotism and love for Malaysia.

Mujahid’s comments echoed those made by Penang Secretary Farizan Darus earlier today.

Farizan said while the state government respects the LGBT community, it does not have a policy promoting the community’s cause.

He said there were complaints on Nisha and Pang’s portraits from “the public and the Prime Minister’s Department”, and subsequently, the portraits were removed yesterday morning.

The George Town Festival is organised and run privately, but receives support from the state as a tourism event.

Mujahid added that respecting the LGBT community is not the same as promoting their lifestyle.

He said he has received negative feedback and threats concerning the LGBT community, and therefore, felt the activists’ portraits should not be publicly displayed.

“I don’t want them to be (targeted) given that they are the ones being promoted. I worry that those who are against them cannot be controlled and will try to hurt them.” – August 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • YB Mujahid. Excellent Straight To The Point
    What is wrong is wrong.

    Posted 7 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

  • Kudos Mr Minister

    Posted 7 years ago by Muzamil Hanafiah · Reply

  • I agreed with what the minister say.

    Posted 7 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • I agreed with what the minister say.

    Posted 7 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • I agreed with what the minister say.

    Posted 7 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • Shame on you, Minister, what narrow-minded cowardice. This is not the PH I voted for. Inclusiveness of all Malaysians does not equate to you subscribing to their values. Instead of focusing on what we have in common, you focus on the differences.

    Posted 7 years ago by Burrd Lim · Reply

  • If they are going to be targeted - by whom? - it is our job, YOUR job to stand up for them.

    Making them invisible drastically increases the chances that they will be actually harmed.

    Posted 7 years ago by Robert Cheok · Reply

  • Are they not Malaysians too?

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Mr Minister Sir.. for havens sake its an Exhibition for people to be educated and to be aware of. We Do NOT live in a closed door society! If you want to progress and if you wish for people to progress please open your eyes!

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply

  • Mujahid Yusof Rawa, They wouldnt have to promote themselves if they werent so persecuted by the government all along and even now it seems. Seems its you that needs an education on the meaning of respect and promote, neither of which i can observe in this case. As in..you arent showing the slightest bit of respect, and what you consider as promotion of their lifestyle is anything but. Certain streets in seedier KL at midnight...now thats promotion. But can you blame then? Look how badly they are being treated by even PH! I am straight, but I am ashamed to continue to live in a country where we can be prejudiced against just for being different.

    Posted 7 years ago by Mahsuri Smiles · Reply

  • Acceptance of LGBT must be done slowly, a huge chunk of society still can't accept or embrace them, this is the same even in more developed and advanced nations. By doing it slowly chances of them being accepted will be far greater. What it is now is like "in your face" approach. Pelan2 laaa...

    Posted 7 years ago by Ali Khan · Reply