Fridae

Addressing a crowd of 300,000 at its 46th Merdeka Day celebrations in the administrative city of Putrajaya, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denounced homosexuality, religious leaders with openly gay lifestyles and gay reporters, reports the Associated Press.

The massive celebrations - the most lavish Independence Day parade since achieving independence from Britain in 1957 - was held as tribute to the 77-year-old's contributions ahead of his retirement later this year.

Dr Mahathir, who has led Malaysia for 22 years, is known critic of US-led globalisation. During the nationally televised speech on Saturday night, he warned that Western influences threatened Malaysia's traditional values.

"Western films idolise sex, violence, murders and wars. Now they permit homosexual practices and accept religious leaders with openly gay lifestyles," he said.

He added, "They are very angry - especially their reporters, many of whom are homos - when we take legal action against these practices."

Same-sex acts in Malaysia are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a flogging.
Last month, government censors banned an episode of "3R," a popular weekly current affairs television series for young women, for allegedly encouraging the acceptance of homosexuality.

The banned episode, titled "Identity Behind The Mirror," contained interviews with two middle-aged lesbians, as well as a skit about discrimination against gay men and lesbians. The show's producers - who include the daughter of the Prime Minister - accused the censors of being out of touch with real-life issues faced by young people in this predominantly Muslim country.

In 2001, he said in widely circulated media reports that he would throw out any gay British minister should he visit the country with his male partner.

His former deputy Anwar Ibrahim who was once designated to be his successor is currently serving a 15-year jail term jail since 1998 on charges of sodomy and corruption. Supporters of Anwar however believe that the charges against him were trumped up as he had challenged Dr Mahathir's authority.

On August 19, Malaysia's Court of Appeal issued a 206-page judgment rejecting a legal appeal by Anwar against his conviction in 2000 on charges of sodomy despite fresh evidence that his conviction for sexual offences was based on tainted and contradictory testimony. Anwar, who has just completed the mandatory portion of a six-year sentence for a corruption conviction, must now serve a further nine years on the sodomy charge.

Deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had been handpicked by Dr Mahathir, says he will continue the country's strict Muslim prohibitions against homosexuality when he takes over in November.