Malaysia: No way we’ll recognise gay rights in Malaysia, says Dr M

PUTRAJAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad today rejected the National Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) defence of the LGBT community, saying their lifestyle is not part of Malaysia’s value system.

“We have to remind Suhakam that our value system is not the same as the Western value system. They’re more free,” the prime minister told reporters after a meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Government Management Integrity (JKKMAR).

Suhakam had recently criticised the caning of two women in Terengganu who were convicted by a shariah court with attempting to engage in lesbian sex.

The government-appointed rights watch had also urged for a repeal of laws that punish people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Mahathir said there were certain things that Malaysians could not accept although they could be considered as part of basic human rights in some Western countries.

“We can’t accept, for example, LGBT, or same-sex marriages, whether between two men or two women. Our concept of family has not changed.

“If you have your own children or have adopted them, then you are a family.

“But not two men or two women. This is not considered a family,” he said. Read more via Free Malaysia

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today rejected the National Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) defence of the LGBT community, saying their lifestyle is not part of Malaysia's value system. "We have to remind Suhakam that our value system is not the same as the Western value system.