Malaysia’s Minister for Religious Affairs Dr. Zulkifli Hasan told politicians that work-related stress, social influences, sexual experiences, and a lack of religious practice may contribute to involvement in “LGBT lifestyle.”
In a written parliamentary reply, Zulkifli cited a 2017 study by Sulaiman et al., saying the research found that a combination of these factors could contribute to the development of LGBT-related behaviour.
This statement was shared earlier this year.
He made the remarks while responding to a question from lawmaker Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who sought updated data on LGBT trends in Malaysia, including age groups, ethnic composition, and related factors.
The minister also said the government does not maintain official statistics on the country’s LGBT population.
The comments drew widespread criticism from different groups on social media that except and promote same-sex relationships.
Major medical and mental health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA), state that sexual orientation is a natural part of human diversity.
It should be mentioned that this practice is widely accepted in Western countries and has little to no affirmation in several Asian countries.
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