Portraits of two LGBT activists were taken down from a photography exhibition in Malaysia's Penang on August 8, after a minister ordered the removal.

Reuters reported that Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Minister of Islamic Affairs, told Malaysian media that he does "not support the promotion of LGBT culture in Malaysia" and therefore asked that the photos be taken away.

The exhibition's sponsor reportedly took to social media to criticise the move.

"False religiosity and political insecurity is not what the New Malaysia is about and can accept," said Vinod Sekhar.

Parliamentarians from the ruling party also stood against the decision.

"This incident is indicative of a larger issue, where we continue to deny the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community their rights, opting instead to marginalise and discriminate them," said lawmaker Charles Santiago.

Reuters described the LGBT community as being "routinely persecuted" in Malaysia.