Claims quake and tsunami in Indonesia were God’s punishment for LGBT.
It is possible that the nation will face God’s wrath due to the actions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, says opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid.
“If we look at the situation in Malaysia, we are concerned over the incident of earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Indonesia, recently, where it is believed more than 1,000 of them were involved in such activities.
“As a result, the entire area was destroyed. This is the punishment of Allah. My question is whether Jakim’s programmes (to rehabilitate the LGBT) is successful because data shows that in the middle of the year more than 1,000 (LGBT) joined these programmes.
“We need to ensure that Malaysia and those who are against LGBT are spared Allah’s punishment,” said Zahid (BN-Bagan Datuk) during Question Time.
His remarks echo various quarters that have linked the Palu disaster to LGBT activities, with some claiming that the place had become a hub for that community.
Responding to Zahid, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa said through Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the government had firmly stated that LGBT would not be accepted in the country, and that the concept of family remains between a married man and woman, with children.
He said the rights of the LGBT community to practise their way of life was still subject to the laws of the country, but that the rights of its citizens were also preserved based on the customs and culture of the country, as well as the framework of the Federal Constitution which places Islam as the religion of the federation.
He added that 1,450 members of Malaysia’s LGBT community voluntarily participated in government programmes, adding that some have since returned to the “path of Islam”.
“There are those making efforts to get over the tendencies and leave the act completely. Also, between 2012 and 2016, three former mak nyahs were sent for umrah. The response from them is that they are able to reflect on the fundamentals of the religion,” he said.
Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad then asked the minister on the Islamic ruling regarding making unsubstantiated statements.
As if aware that his fellow Pakatan Harapan lawmaker was alluding to Zahid’s Palu remark, Mujahid told the backbencher that Muslims today should refrain from using ancient examples as examples.
“As Muslims, we are taught that all disasters come from Allah, it will only happen through His will. It is clear that everything comes from Allah.
“If we study the Quran, there were tribes that were annihilated because of their utterly blatant actions,” Mujahid said.
He referred to the tribe of Luth (Lot in English), the prophet sent to the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah that were destroyed.
“They were blatantly open, that is why disaster struck. Here, even though we have LGBT issues it is still under control and we shouldn’t use disasters as examples,” he added.
According to Mujahid, the government realised that the actions of the LGBT community might have caused them to be sidelined even more from mainstream culture.
“Study shows that there are about 20,000 transgenders, and more than 80% of them are involved in the sex industry.
“Jakim, as an agency at the federal level, has taken the initiative to reach out to the community, including to invite them back to participate in treatment and recovery programmes voluntarily via its mukhayyam initiative since 2011,” he said.
Mujahid added that the programme was done along with other relevant Islamic state agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).