Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], January 30: Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan is facing a wave of criticism from the public after making remarks linking workplace tensions to homosexuality.
In a written response to the Malaysian parliament on January 27, Minister Zulkifli Hasan cited a 2017 study that listed several factors that can lead people to exhibit homosexual behaviors.
These factors include social influence, sexual experiences, work stress, and other personal circumstances, according to the South China Morning Post on January 29.
"The study highlights a combination of factors that may contribute to the formation of LGBT-related behaviors," Dr. Zulkifli states in the document.
Dr. Zulkifli responded to a written inquiry from MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (of the Rantau Panjang party), who requested updated data and statistics on LGBT-related trends in Malaysia.
The female MP wanted detailed information including proportions by age group and ethnic composition, as well as the key factors contributing to the increase in the number of gay people in Malaysia.
However, the minister admitted that the government does not have official statistics on the size of the LGBT community in Malaysia.
"Comprehensive data on the number of LGBT people in Malaysia is still limited," he said.
However, Dr. Zulkifli's answer regarding the causes of homosexuality quickly drew fierce criticism online, with many questioning whether LGBT membership stems from social stress or pressure.
Following a strong backlash from social media users and LGBT rights advocacy groups, Dr. Zulkifli urged people to read his full response and argued that his statement had been taken out of context.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
