©The Sun Daily (Used by permission)
by TAN YI LIANG
NGO, PTAs to educate parents, oppose ‘free and perverse sex’
KUALA LUMPUR: Non–governmental organisation Pertubuhan Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) will join forces with parent–teacher associations in the Klang Valley to counter a perceived rise in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement in Malaysian society.
Its president, Azwanddin Hamzah, said yesterday JMM has set up an action committee with selected PTAs with the aim of educating parents on overcoming this movement.
At a press conference, Azwanddin said the committee is the second phase of JMM’s plan to oppose the LGBT and “free sex” movement.
“We involve the PTAs because they are closer to the students and the parents and can suggest how to conduct campaigns in schools,” he said.
He said the LGBT movement is linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS and societal decline.
“Free and perverse sex are not basic rights. Every religion opposes sexual acts such as sodomy,” he said.
Referring to the Bar Council’s stance on the Seksualiti Merdeka movement last year, Azwanddin said: “We were afraid when the Bar Council supported Seksualiti Merdeka; they should be an independent body, but they also are promoting free sex, and this is wrong because this is an Islamic country and we cannot compromise on this.”
“We hope Seksualiti Merdeka does not represent Asian culture. They are trying to gain recognition for perverse sex and free sex in our country, masked as a basic right.”
When contacted, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said the Bar respected the right of JMM to express its views so long as it is done in a peaceful, non–violent manner.
He said JMM should explain why lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people should be deprived of their right of freedom of expression to voice their feelings against the discrimination which they experience.
He said intellectual discourse and engagements between the two different viewpoints are necessary,
“The Malaysian Bar spoke up for freedom of expression. I would recommend that JMM engage with members of the LGBT community and those who are sympathetic to their cause including Marina Mahathir in a peaceful, non–violent manner to understand their cause,” he said.