Minister Zulkifli Hasan publicly suggested that external factors such as work stress could cause a person to become gay. This framing treats sexual orientation as something caused by lifestyle or environment — a position that has been rejected by every major health and psychological body worldwide.
The Malaysian government's broader position frames LGBTQ+ identities as contrary to religion, morals, and social values.
Sexual orientation is a natural and inherent aspect of human diversity. This is not opinion — it is the consensus of decades of peer-reviewed research.
This position is upheld by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and numerous other global health bodies.
WHO · APA · Global ConsensusWhen a government minister makes claims like this, it doesn't happen in a vacuum. Words from people in power shape public attitudes — and directly affect real lives.
Such statements:
- Spread stigma — reinforcing the idea that being LGBTQ+ is an abnormality or sickness
- Fuel discrimination — giving social license to harassment, exclusion, and violence
- Undermine mental health — increasing anxiety, depression, and isolation among LGBTQ+ individuals who are already vulnerable in hostile environments
People are not abstractions. Behind every statistic is a person trying to live with dignity.
While states may uphold cultural or religious views, international human rights frameworks are clear: cultural or religious values cannot justify discrimination or dehumanisation.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Malaysia is a signatory, affirms that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights — without distinction of any kind.
SUHAKAM — the Malaysian Human Rights Commission — rejected these claims as “inappropriate, misleading, and unethical.”
They emphasised that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, deserve dignity and respect. This is notable because it comes from within Malaysia's own institutional framework — not from an external body.
SUHAKAM Official StatementWhen leaders spread misinformation, the responsibility to correct it falls on everyone — journalists, educators, civil society, and everyday citizens willing to stand for truth.
Sources & References
- World Health Organization (WHO) — Removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 1990. Affirms sexual orientation is a natural variation.
- American Psychological Association (APA) — Decades of research confirming sexual orientation is not a choice and is not caused by environmental stressors.
- SUHAKAM — Malaysian Human Rights Commission. Publicly rejected the minister's claims as inappropriate, misleading, and unethical.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
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