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