And why? Because Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals (LGBTs) are considered to be against Islam, and hence must be removed from society by the government. The stop of the ‘spread’ of LGBTs is to be done via such coercive measure such as the Islamic religious police and the enforcement of Sharia laws that are already on the books.
Western gay rights organizations will of course take no heed or notice of the explicitly Islamic character of the oppression of the LGBT community in Malaysia. It seems that as far as these groups, along with at least one western government is concerned, the only religion that really oppresses homosexuals is Christianity. “Putrajaya reining in LGBT spread, says deputy minister’, The Malaysian Insider, 19 June 2012:
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 “” The government views the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and trans-sexual (LGBT) issue seriously and is controlling its spread
through prevention efforts and legal enforcement, Deputy Minister in the
Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim told the Dewan
Rakyat [the lower chamber of the Malaysian parliament] today.
I suppose that means there will be no Gay Pride parades coming to Malaysia anytime soon. As Malaysia is a ‘moderate‘ Muslim state, unlucky members of the Malaysian LGBT community only face fines and imprisonment. At least for now.
She said these efforts were done with the help of the Islamic
Development Department (Jakim) and State Religious Department (Jain)
[Islamic Religious Police] through programmes such as the BEST! Tour which aimed to educate
teenagers on social ills such as HIV Aids caused by homosexual
lifestyles.
Of course. After thirty years of the AIDS pandemic, everyone knows that only homosexuals spread the virus that causes AIDS. With ‘facts’ like these, how can Malaysian education efforts on HIV or homosexuals go wrong?
“A series of rehabilitation and treatment courses will also be given
to Muslims who have deviated from societal norms, while Jakim and Jain
have conducted a Mukhayyam programme with repented transsexuals to
obtain positive feedback from them,” she said in reply to an original
question from Datuk Mohd Jidin (BN-Setiu) who wanted to know the
government’s seriousness in tackling LGBT issues in the country.
‘Rehabilitation and treatment’ of LGBTs–apparently being a homosexual or transsexual is in the Malaysian government’s view akin to being a drug addict. Under a Muslim government like Malaysia’s, such views are state sanctioned and are not to be challenged, as Irshad Manji herself recently found out.
In terms of enforcement, she said laws clearly stated in the Syariah
Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559) can only be
enforced on Muslims.
Of course, as to who is and who isn’t a Muslim, that is up to the Government and the Sharia courts to decide. If they say you’re a Muslim, then by Allah you are one. Your own say in the matter is irrelevant.
Dr Mashitah said the government and state religious authorities will
take legal action against any Muslims involved in LGBT and who flout
laws in each state.
There are no legal and religious provisions in Malaysia that allow
homosexuality, free sex and same-sex marriages, she added. “” Bernama
Sharia’s provisions on homosexuality are quite harsh. Homosexuality is in fact a capital crime in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Mauritania, and Sudan. But don’t expect the official Malaysian government press agency Bernama to bother pointing out any of this.