This cancellation comes during a time when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government is taking a more conservative stance to appease the nation’s Muslim majority. The parliamentary landscape has shifted with the entrance of the conservative Islamist party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia, which has been vocal in its disapproval of the current administration's handling of what it labels as Islamic values.
In a recent CNN interview, Prime Minister Anwar acknowledged societal discomfort with public displays of affection in the LGBTQ community but advised against harassment: “Muslims and non-Muslims alike, there is a consensus—they do not accept this. But do we then go and harass them? That is a different subject. I do not approve of any attempt to harass.”
The canceled event, titled "Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness," was intended to create a platform for sexual health and awareness within the LGBTQ community. However, it drew the ire of the religious affairs minister, Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who labeled the gathering as a promotion of "deviant culture."
The situation reflects both the challenges faced by LGBTQ advocates in Malaysia and the increasingly conservative political climate, indicating a significant shift in the approach of the government towards LGBTQ issues in the nation.
In a recent CNN interview, Prime Minister Anwar acknowledged societal discomfort with public displays of affection in the LGBTQ community but advised against harassment: “Muslims and non-Muslims alike, there is a consensus—they do not accept this. But do we then go and harass them? That is a different subject. I do not approve of any attempt to harass.”
The canceled event, titled "Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness," was intended to create a platform for sexual health and awareness within the LGBTQ community. However, it drew the ire of the religious affairs minister, Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who labeled the gathering as a promotion of "deviant culture."
The situation reflects both the challenges faced by LGBTQ advocates in Malaysia and the increasingly conservative political climate, indicating a significant shift in the approach of the government towards LGBTQ issues in the nation.
