Fridae

Malaysia's Human Rights Commission has spoken out against the country's youth and sports ministry for "giving into public pressure" and letting an LGBT activist quit his job as an interim press officer due to public scrutiny, Free Malaysia Today reported.

Earlier this month, Numan Afifi announced his resignation from his post with the Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, citing abuse from the opposition.

Razali Ismail, chairman of the commission, which also known as Sukaham, reportedly described Afifi's resignation as "extremely troubling" and violating Malaysia's constitution, which promises equal rights for all citizens.

Worried that this could be considered a case of workplace discrimination, Ismail said, "The officer was instead deemed to be unfit for the position based solely on his sexual orientation, which is a characteristic completely irrelevant to job performance."

"The backlash and threats from opposition propagandists have made it impossible for me to exercise my duties, therefore I have decided not to work at the ministry in any official capacity," Afifi was quoted as saying in Free Malaysia Today.