Malaysia’s human rights commission says it does not support same-sex marriage
Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty)
Malaysia’s human rights commission has said it does not support same-sex marriage, following comments made by the country’s prime minister.
The commission, Suhakam, has denied that it is working towards legalising equal marriage rights for LGBT people, but said it aimed to give everyone the same basic rights under the Federal Constitution.
Suhakam chairman, Razali Ismail, said: “Suhakam does not support same-sex marriages in Malaysia.
“While Suhakam believes and subscribes to the universality of human rights, Suhakam does not fail to take into account our context-specific values.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister said the country “has a different value system than the Westerners” (Roman Pilipey – Pool/Getty)
“However, Suhakam is steadfast in its position that no one has the right to discriminate LGBT [people] or treat them with hate or violence,” he added, local news outlet Malaysiakini reported.
“The government cannot allow a situation where personal religious beliefs coupled with government inaction and political homophobia become a license for violence against LGBTs.
“Suhakam reiterates that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity have the same basic rights as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.”
The prime minister made his views on LGBT+ rights clear in response to progressive amendments recommended by Suhakam.
Amendments proposed include offering education, employment, healthcare and housing services to LGBT+ people without discrimination.
It is illegal to be gay in Malaysia (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty)
“Suhakam has presented its proposals to us just now, including one on amending the Suhakam Act,” Mohamad said.
“While we agree with Suhakam [on certain things], we have to remind Suhakam that Malaysia has a different value system than the Westerners.
“For instance, we cannot accept LGBT as well as the marriage of man and man or woman and woman.”
“The concept of family remains the same—that it [constitutes] a couple with their own children or adopted ones to be considered as family,” added the prime minister.
“But two men or two women is not considered a family.”
Gay sex is banned in the country, which groups it together with bestiality in a list of offences which are “against the order of nature.”
