Malaysia’s stance towards the LGBTQ community is clear and the authorities have consistently be anti-LGBTQ.
Nonetheless, the Malaysian authorities is committed to re-educate those from the LGBTQ community into reforming their ways of life and sexual orientation. One of the methods the authorities adopted is to send LGBTQ people to a Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) ‘Kem Ibadah’ or worship camp.
During the First Meeting of the Fourth Term of the 14th Parliament session, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that 1,733 alleged LGBTQ individuals have been sent to a JAKIM worship camp this year to be rehabilitated as of June 2021.
Ismail said this when responding to a question raised by Kapar MP, Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, about the steps the government are taking to address the LGBT community in Malaysia.
He added that the Malaysian government is serious about the issue of LGBT people in the country as Malaysia is a country that adheres to the religion of Islam.
“This program is implemented with the objective of guiding and imparting spiritual awareness to the LGBTQ community through religious approach (monotheism), to provide exposure and guidance of Fardhu Ain guidance and knowledge as well as health-related awareness especially on HIV.”
“Up until June 2021, as many as 1,733 participants among the LGBTQ community have followed the JAKIM Mukhayyam Programme in collaboration with the State Islamic Religious Departments and agencies such as Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoH) and the Religious Council Islamic States and Zakat Centres.”
“On top of that, there are 12 Hijrah Community NGOs among the LGBTQ community, who are Muslims, have been successfully established.” he said.
Ismail said the LGBTQ community should be nurtured in the wisest way and given awareness to return to the base of the road.
Meanwhile, he said that it is everyone’s responsibility, whether government, private agencies or public community to invite and guide these LGBTQ individuals back to normal. He added that such efforts are highly demanded with the hope that they can change themselves.
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