Describing the numbers as “scary”, Datuk Baharum Mohamad, an UMNO/Barisan Nasional MP, told the country’s Parliament on Wednesday that three in ten men in the country were gay, and called on the government to establish a gay rehabilitation centre to prevent same-sex relationships from getting rampant in the country.
Datuk Baharum (BN-Sekijang) said the centre should offer suitable treatment and therapy for those involved to leave and avoid homosexual activities.
"We have to find a solution to combat these activities from getting rampant just like the efforts we take to combat drugs.”
“A study has found that, right now, three out of 10 men in Malaysia are gay. This is scary,” he said.
Sources or details of the study was not cited nor identified by local media. It is not clear whether Baharum intended ‘rehabilitation’ to be voluntary.
Responding to a question about what action can be taken against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim said action can only be taken against Muslims under the Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997. She added that action can be taken for offences such as prostitution, sodomy and pimping. (Watch NTV7 video.)
Section 377 of Malaysia’s penal code however outlaws same-sex sexual relations as well as oral sex between opposite-sex partners.
"Various efforts have and are being made by the government with the cooperation of ministries and related NGOs to support and spread the Cairo Declaration regarding human rights in Islam, which is clearly against LGBT."
"Secondly, to create greater awareness on the edict with regards to LGBT through the media, seminars, forums and also the publication of leaflets," said Dr Mashitah.
Last year, news that the Terengganu Education Department had sent 66 schoolboys with ‘effeminate’ tendencies to a boot camp to intervene before the boys “reach the point of no return” (meaning before they "become" gay or transgender) drew widespread outrage. After running for four years largely without problems, the annual Seksualiti Merdeka festival was banned by the police last November.
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political nonsense at it's finest.
Malaysia - here I cum !
Asinine.
Seriously, this is a shame! Gayness is not a disease and it can't be cured... But it can easily be denied.
I'm sad when I hear news like that.
Up until now, they are still in the dark or refuse to acknowledge the fact that we are born the way we are and than preaches from certain religion that it's not right to be so and so . As the saying goes "katak di bawah tempurung" feels like they are the stereotypical, selfish people who run the country and deny the people from freedom to express themselves.
I wonder, if homosexuality is so "rampant" in the country that it could ruin the country? with??? low birth rate??? guys that selflessly do inappropriate sexual act in front of him...or his son or his relative or bro or someone he knows is gay and do they in anyway harm him. Just realize how "open-minded" Malaysia politician are and the way they make you laugh really enforced the fact that empty barrels make the most noise...wow..
So much fear - as usual - with any govenrment. We've been indirectly influenced, controlled and manipulated, BUT we don't have to buy into any of these craps, do we?
Why only look at one side of the issue? Perhaps 'they' may want to consider looking at the female gender instead. Could the feminine be one of the causes of homosexuality? (hmm... that's a thought)
And let's be dead honest already, hasn't almost every men -straight, bi, queer or what-not, at one time, thought of or wondered how it would feel like to have sex with another man?
And hasn't almost every gay man, at one time, thought of or wondered how it would feel like to have sex with a woman? Well, I have thought of it before.
Is homosexuality a disease? Or perhaps just a choice...? They make it sound like it's a disease that can be healed. Do we not know that drug addicts run at a much bigger number? And have those druggy rehabs been successful so far?
One day - soon - they will drown in their own fear. Before it was just a damn word that caused a stir in the news, now it's homos, then what next? Perhaps these politicians need a good spanking in the arse. For free!
Quicken the Queer Quality already!
My 2-cents worth,
Eric Teoh, KL
Unfortunately Utusan is in a world of its own (see its political views which makes malaysians of all races cringe). Whilst deplorable, am not sure if it represents the views of all.
The man’s views don’t say much for the sensitivity or the quality of the Malaysian members of parliament it would be funny if it wasn't so sad….
Having many gay men around is not scary. Gay men are sweet,caring and more lovely that straight.
There are many straight men, 70%, does the minister find it scary.\ ??????
30% of men (no women?) gay? If true then start a gay political party with a large block of the votes in the bag already. Or just start a gay religion?
He sounds line a bully looking for a soft victim or a closet case. 30% in his dreams and mine too.
If 30% of malays are gay and Datuk Baharum had the audacity to call for a *holocaust*, i think his political future will be in turmoil. Either he lacks the brain for politics, or he's making up the number to justify his homophobia.
But I supposed that the homophobics who are suddenly told that 3 in 10 of the people around them are gay, would likely accept the message as it is. "Oh no! The evil is spreading! A***h save us!" At least, that's what I imagine. It's like how infectious doomsday prophecy can be.
Is just impossible.Ppl like us is born with that.
As a Malaysian I am so ashame on this news.
Always felt bad when the radio airing the cencored Born This Way.I dont wanna stay at this place with almost zero acceptance.
gay rehab... hmmm... isn't the word "rehab" usually used for bad things like... drugs or smoking or drinking ( too much)...
this report has the word "HOMOPHOBIA" written all over it...
and i saw in the article the word "scary"... in which way is having 30% of the population gay, "SCARY"? is it like they have a communicable disease or something...
is this person just doing this tactics to cover up some of his own secrets??? why are some people doing such things to "combat" things that is not even endangering other people... combating homosexuality... when was homosexuality likened to a guerilla group out to capture the whole world?
The best-researched nationwide study of the % of gay in the population that I am aware of was conducted by the British Government Actuary's Department (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1505277/Six-per-cent-of-population-are-gay-or-lesbian-according-to-Whitehall-figures.html). The magic figure that professional actuaries derived at, based on decades of data, is 6%. Unless this BN MP has any reason to suspect that the Malaysian population is somehow genetically unique, I don't see how it could have a population that is 30% gay.
interesting...
now for a nonsense prediction!
in the next few weeks someone will ask him about gay rights. utusan will take his quote out of context and paint the picture that he and his party are a bunch of rainbow flag wearing, sinful sodomizers.
the message will be vote bn and the moral status quo will be safeguarded. vote opposition and everyone will turn gay.
unfortunately homophobes outnumber liberals and homosexuals in the country, and even if they don't, they will protest the loudest.
win for government!
Better still, why not set up a Muslim Rehabilitation Centre. After all there are more muslims and they are more of a problem than the 30% of gay men that that Baharum quotes ( the rest of the world works on the basis of 10% homosexuality so that Malaysia is truly blessed in this regard). Contrary to Islamic thinking, sexuality is not a choice as can be simply shown because it knows no boundaries. As such sexuality cannot respond to 'rehabilitation' . But when you believe the word of a 'god' who had the knowledge base of a 6th century none-too-bright Arab, you'll believe anything. Whereas being a muslim is definitely a choice.. but the sort of choice that is made through compulsion, through ignorance and under duress.... its still a choice and its a choice that involves intelligence destroying indoctrination. Relatively speaking homosexuals have caused very little damage to the human race, whereas Islam has destroyed the lives of billions upon billions of humans. You just have to look at the status of muslims across the world to reach that conclusion. In contrast homosexual people are widely regarded as being creative and a disproportionate number of the world's great creative men are accredited homosexuals. Whereas Muslims are extremely unproductive, unimaginative, uncreative and unnecessary. I wonder if Mr Baharum would be interested in rehabilitating Chinese and Indian men and foreigners... or is he just another ignorant, racist, sexist, repressive muslim who want to do nothing more than control his own race
In any case, malaysian politics can make almost anything look comical, so no real surprise there. What kind of report or toilet-bowl inspiration is this 'study' based on? I'm not sure if even pro-gay studies dared to tag such a percentage of prevalence.
...and does this study apply to their oh-so-righteous parliament? Which 3 out of 10 are they going to use this excuse against to get rid of them?
Many thanks, malay-siao, you always make my day my making me feel better about my own country :-D
By the way; Being out is 'In'
What a joke and coming from this politicians ????? We let these morons run the country ???
If they believe it is 30% gay out OF EVERY TEN MEN then what about women? Secondly, that would imply there are 50% as they have missed out inherent Bisexuality too.
It's totally natural -Islamic injustice and cultural interference is irrational.
Leave society alone. Humans are humans. Extremist views like the 30% gay comments are from people who fear themselves.
30%??? OMG, then I guess quite a number of my relatives and friends are gay!! Bullsh*t!!
It's sad to know that some of our country's elected politicians are just so desperate, up until a point where they just "forget" to verify the so-called "facts" that they feed the rakyat.
If you ask me, I think the boys in boot-camps are having a fine time getting to know more PLU friends who are just like them. It's a chance to meet more cute boys around your age, a chance to eat, work-out, and sleep together (they're in a boot camp, who knows what happens at night out in those "ulu"areas??!!), and all the expenses is paid by the government, and finally the only price these boys have to pay is just that they need to (at least try) to stay awake during those ulama seminars, and answer the end-boot-camp-forms otherwise of their thinking and they're ready to go home!!To me, that's a really cool camp to go!! (so no complaints from the boys).
Sorry, If i have offended anyone with this comment. Just my personally2-cent opinions.
Justin.
In the last Malaysian General Election in 2008, the ruling coalition BN won 142 seats vs the Pakatan Rakyat's (opposition camp) 82. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_general_election,_2008) In terms of share of popular votes, BN only won 50.27%, against PR's 46.75%. 1 in 2 Malaysian voters supported the opposition coalition. Thus, being able to have a Prime Minister who'll acknowledge that this anti-gay law is archaic and should be reviewed is not a dream anymore.
Only when a change in power occurs can the status quo change for the better.
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/senator-homosexuality-equals-prostitution
Senator: Homosexuality equals prostitution
Friday, March 23, 2012 - 15:18
by Ram Anand
by Hamzah Nazari
KUALA LUMPUR: Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender (LBGT) lifestyles have been equated to social ills like prostitution and drug abuse by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim (pic).
Responding to a question from Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit-BN) on steps to curb homosexuality, Mashitah said it was a "social problem".
“The (LBGT) issue has its own after-effects, which can lead to prostitution, drug abuse, psychological problems and also mental illness. We have been raising awareness on our fatwa against LBGT tendencies with heavy media publicity on the issue to raise awareness, and also about the bad effects homosexuality has on health.”
She said it was only provided to punish Muslim offenders under Syariah laws. "But then again, no religion in this country endorses such lifestyles."
Mashitah said Malaysia did not support freedom for the LBGT community although it was discussed at a United Nations convention last year.
“Part of the LBGT problem is caused by natural reasons, such as being born with two private parts and mental illness.”
Mashitah was non-committal when asked by Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan-PKR) if the federal government would consider giving the opposition funds to implement career-change programmes for transvestites in Pahang. "We already have such programmes, so you are welcome to join us in implementing those programmes," she said.
What a total douchebag. Every time you think Malaysia has reached the zenith of their myopia and general stupidity, they go and top themselves (... er... so to speak).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL0gFIXnhiE&feature=related
we ought to feel very very fortunate that we're living harmoniously in SINGAPORE.
This asshole who propose this nonsence is not well read and living in a nutshell. Then don't wear nice suits as many designers are gay, stop driving nice cars as they are also designed by gays too, dont flaunt your computer as the father of computing (Turing) was gay, dont you dare to show off you iphone and ipad as the current Apple CEO is gay......
The country suffers from brain drain (reasons given: inequality, intolerance, corruption, salary) and all efforts, so far, to bring back Malaysians who have left the country have been pitiful.
More will go, and this last oxymoron stand by a government member may well add to the number.
Malaysia was one of the countries to leave the floor when the U.N Secretary General delivered his recent speech on LGBT people;
the same U.N SG on his last week's visit the Malaysia pleaded for tolerance and openness towards LGBT people: obviously it fell on deaf ears !
Ample are the damages mice that roar can do !!!
PS: Chadm252. Love your entries, as usual.
Don't think she would want to piss off those number in taxes used to support her ass on that big chair she sits in if she would have calculated things properly in that tiny brain of hers.
In case you don't know Datuk Baharum Mohamad is a woman. A very very religious one = =" damn....this is why i hate when religion mixes with politics.
30% of the Members of Parliament have come out from closet. I'm sure you have to show a good example to go to the gay Rehab first before you can look into public as a whole. Try the rehab and see whether it is working to make the GAY MP to become straight. lol
Stupidity of a government can be proved here.
I think the poor MP is a little confused. 30% represents the percentage of Malaysian males who admit to having a sexual encounter with another male (usually a schoolfriend) at some point in their lives (usually around puberty).
Its called experimentation.
I tried it with a few woman when I was a teen, it was OK physically but no emotion I'm afraid. So gay I am and gay I'll stay.
But us "confirmed bachelors" are only 2-3% of the adult male population - fortunately. I say fortunately 'cos if it was any higher there could be a national fertility problem, a reduction in the gene pool and Malaysians could even die out! Not much chance of that I reckon looking at Bukit Bintang, KLCC, Mid Valley or 1 Utama on a Saturday afternoon.
I think a few years ago in Singapore the incidence there used to be quoted at somewhat higher than 3%, but that is all down to social rebellion and the dread of dating a girl who may well turn out just like her mother......
Another world record for Malaysia then.
Yeah ! MALAYSIA BOLEH !
They love to hate themselves.
3 out of 10 men are gay is scary?? he prefer 3 out of 10 men are robber/thief/murder?
As a gay we still work, we will outing, we still have fun, we still have our life as you do... We do more charity then you did. we return to society/public then you do. So aren't you scary then us???
Proud to be gay (",)
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