A Malaysian minister, Zulkifli Hasan, has landed in hot water over his remark about the LGBTQA+ community. The minister, working in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), commented that work-related stress led to what he described as an LGBT lifestyle. Videos of his remark were widely circulated on social media, drawing sharp criticism on the internet.
In his remark, a reply to Parliament, Zulkifli referred to a 2017 study by Sulaiman et al., stating that several factors may influence an individual’s involvement in LGBT-related behavior.
“The study emphasised that a combination of these elements may contribute to the development of LGBT-related behaviour,” he said in the reply, according to reports.
Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN–Rantau Panjang) asked the minister about the country’s updated data on trends related to LGBTQA+ matters in Malaysia. In response, Zulkifli said that Malaysia does not have any official data on the particular community. “Comprehensive data on the number of LGBT people in Malaysia remains limited,” he said.
After receiving immense backlash on the internet, the minister claimed that his words were taken in a different manner. “Comprehensive data on the number of LGBT people in Malaysia remains limited,” he said.
“The Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) rejects the normalisation of LGBT as it contradicts religion, morals, and social values,” he added. While critics argue that such statements risk reinforcing stigma, supporters say they align with Malaysia’s conservative social framework.
