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Thursday, March 23, 2023

Nga roasted for 'harmful' remarks against LGBT community






Nga roasted for 'harmful' remarks against LGBT community



Martin Vengadesan


Human rights groups have taken aim at Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming for his brusque dismissal of the LGBT community, saying that his statement today potentially put the marginalised group at further risk of discrimination and violence.

This came after Nga (above) in a statement said: "The government will never support a single LGBT programme in the country including the 'Thai Hot Guy' which promotes hedonistic culture, profanity, and free sex."

Justice For Sisters co-founder S Thilaga said that the response is very clearly discriminatory, irresponsible, and harmful.

"I think likening LGBT people, performers, and content to the promotion of hedonistic culture, profanity, and free sex is a dangerous stereotype and falsehood.

"His and other politicians’ statements over the last few weeks show a deep lack of understanding of LGBT people.

"We stress that sexual orientation, gender, and sex are identities like race, disabilities, etc. They are not lifestyles, choices, etc as what these deeply misinformed ministers and elected representatives say," she told Malaysiakini.


Justice For Sisters co-founder S Thilaga


Nga's statement was published on Pakatan Harapan's official Twitter account and came after “Thai Hot Guy” - a planned performance by a group of Thai men in women’s clothes at a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur - was called off on police order.

It should be noted that the planned event was not about LGBT activities.

Awam's senior programme manager Lillion Kok said that politicians should understand that their speeches can instigate and propagate hateful tones within the rakyat.

"Intolerance will only build barriers of misunderstanding to what we understand about human rights," she said.

Thilaga said that a survey done by her group showed the impact of anti-LGBT statements by politicians.

"In our survey with 220 people, almost 34 percent of respondents said that they have experienced discrimination as a result of hateful speech by politicians. And 56 percent said that they faced increased stress," she added.

"Earlier this year, Nga also tweeted an infographic that included the sentiment that the current unity government does not recognise and excludes LGBT people.

"I think it's important that elected representatives and others refrain from making non-factual claims to reduce misinformation and prejudice against marginalised groups, like LGBT people.

"It is important for Nga and other elected reps to understand their responsibility as state actors in protecting, promoting, and fulfilling the human rights of all people, instead of inciting hate, discrimination and violence against LGBT people," she added.


'Nga remarks are disconcerting'

Former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan also felt that Nga's comments were out of line.


Ambiga Sreenevasan


"I do not wish to comment on the cancelled show but the minister's remarks concerning the LGBT community are disconcerting.

"This comment is confined solely to the remarks by the minister (if correctly reported) that this government has an anti-LGBT policy. What does that even mean?

"It's time to stop bullying a marginalised and oppressed community just to burnish religious credentials. Are they aware that such irresponsible statements put the lives of the LGBT in danger?" she said to Malaysiakini.

North-South Initiative's Adrian Periera concurred.

"This shocking statement will add to the gross stigma already faced by the community and increase the risk of violence in the future.

"Politicians need to be held accountable and responsible for making such misleading statements," he tweeted.


Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy


Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said that Nga should retract his statement.

"Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and it does not necessarily indicate one’s sexual identity or sexual orientation. Nga’s comments highlight a disappointing lack of awareness and sensitivity on the subject matter of gender identity and sexual orientation.

"Most importantly, in light of his current position as a state actor, Nga’s behaviour is irresponsible.

"By perpetuating societal misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community, Nga’s words have the effect of compounding existing stigma and discrimination that this community already faces in realising fundamental rights such as safety, employment and equitable healthcare access, whilst also legitimising systematic policing, violence, and harassment against this community by various stakeholders including members of the public," said Sevan.


Sisters In Islam executive director Rozana Isa


Meanwhile, Sisters In Islam executive director Rozana Isa touched on the related topic of the censorship of entertainment in Malaysia, saying that it needs a more open discussion, especially as one of the issues raised was that the planned performance was being held during the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan.

"As an industry, it is very diverse in terms of forms of entertainment, markets and audiences that are being catered to. Licensing issues aside, do Muslims in this country have expectations that entertainment be suspended for fellow Malaysians who have no obligation to observe the month of Ramadan?

"Is it reasonable for those in Malaysia who are not obligated to observe Ramadan to also suspend their own entertainment businesses for a month? Is it reasonable to expect that forms of entertainment must meet the benchmark of religious authorities in Malaysia, and if yes, to what extent and is this reasonable?" she asked.


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