Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office Minister (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hassan has landed at the center of a public firestorm after what he described as work-related stress and social factors as an LGBT lifestyle, sparking sharp criticism and widespread debate across the country, local media reported.
Zulkifli Hassan, Malaysia’s Minister (Religious Affairs) in the Prime Minister’s Office, discussed the reasons behind what he termed ‘LGBT behaviour’. (Ex/Dr Zulkifli Hasan)In a written reply to Parliament, Zulkifli cited a 2017 study by Sulaiman et al., noting that several factors can influence a person’s involvement in LGBT-related behaviors.
These include social influences, sexual experiences, work pressure and other personal circumstances.
“Research emphasizes that a combination of these factors can contribute to the development of LGBT-related behaviors,” he said in reply, according to a report in India Today.
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We reject LGBT normalization: MinisterZulkifli was responding to a question from Datuk Siti Zaylah Mohd Yusof (PN-Rantaw Panjang), who sought updated data and statistics on trends related to LGBT issues in Malaysia.
He wanted details such as the age-based and ethnic breakdown, as well as the main factors contributing to the increase in cases.
However, the minister admitted that the government does not have official statistics on the size of the LGBT population in the country.
“Comprehensive data on the number of LGBT people in Malaysia is limited,” he said.
The comment quickly sparked criticism online, with many questioning the portrayal of LGBT identity as driven by stress or social pressure.
In response, Zulkifli urged the public to read his parliamentary reply in its entirety, saying his comments were taken out of context.
He called for “tabayyun” – scrutiny – before jumping to conclusions based on partial reports.
“I invite everyone, including Members of Parliament and the public, to honestly refer to and scrutinize the full written reply given in Parliament,” he said in a statement issued after the response.
What is the location of Malaysia?The minister reiterated the government’s position, stating: “The Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) rejects LGBT normalization as it contradicts religion, morality and social values”.
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While critics argue that such statements risk reinforcing stigma, supporters say they align with Malaysia’s conservative social fabric.
Zulkifli’s comments, along with his subsequent clarifications, led to a rethinking of the government’s approach to LGBT-related issues, particularly in the absence of comprehensive official data on the community.
