Fridae

The leader of a political opposition party in Malaysia said that she does not understand why LGBT people in the country are demanding rights and complaining of discrimination, according to a report in Pink News.

In a recent Q and A session at a press conference, Latteffah Ali, the state chairperson for the Negeri Sembilan chapter of the United Malays National Organization, said "we do not understand the social equality" that activists want to fight for regarding the gay and trans community.

She said that LGBT people in Malaysia "enjoy all the facilities and other privileges" of people in the country and that there was "no direct denial of rights."

However, in Malaysia same-sex relations are illegal, as is gay marriage. Two women were recently arrested for being intimate in a car, and are facing caning and fines.

Ali expressed concern at what she said could be the growing acceptance of the LGBT community.

"If the government continues to provide opportunities for this group, we are worried there will be another demand," she said, according to Pink News, referring to the question of which public toilet transgender individuals use.

She alleged that Western nations "do not accept this group," but that "when a lot of cries are made to claim their rights, they are finally accepted and that's what we are worried about."

This push for rights should be halted, Ali said, so that Malaysia will have a "healthy and ethical generation." It is a fight in which UMNO says they will not compromise.