PKR de-facto chief Anwar Ibrahim slammed the BN government for harassing and bullying the LGBT community in Malaysia by banning their annual Seksualiti Merdeka festival slated for November 9 to 13.
The 64-year-old Anwar, who is also the Opposition Leader and head of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, said Malaysians did not have to support homosexuality but must accept that every citizen has the right to personal space and to express themselves peacefully without being persecuted.
“The issue here is not whether to support or not to support. The issue is you attack them. That’s something else. Can’t we talk about things in this country?" he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday.
Stop the hatred game
Anwar also took the police to task for summoning Ambiga Sreenevasan, the Bersih chief and former Bar Council president, for questioning over the event. Ambiga has clarified she was not on the Seksualiti Merdeka organising committee but invited to be their guest of honor.
However, it has not stopped Umno-linked groups from pinning blame on her for the event which they insisted was immoral and anti-Islam.
The coordinated manner in which the attacks were launched against Ambiga and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community harked back at the July 9 Berish rally for free and fair elections, which was also banned.
This has prompted accusations that Prime Minister Najib Razak's government was using the gay community as spring board to create fear and hatred towards the hugely popular Bersih, which has been responsible for reviving the political reform movement in Malaysia.
“This is what you call the vulnerability of a normal citizen against the entire might of a corrupt government. Why do you treat her like a common criminal, harassing her in this manner?” Anwar asked.
Engage with the LGBT, not use them as political pawns
Anwar also advised the police to engage with Seksualiti Merdeka's organisers rather than ban the event, pointing to its disastrous ham-fisted crackdown on the Bersih rally, which drew worldwide condemnation.
Seksualiti Merdeka was banned by the police on the grounds that it threatened public order, yet the event has been held since 2008 without attracting attention.
This year's unprecedented attack against the LGBT, with Umno-owned TV3 even tagging the event as a "free sex" festival angered Marina Mahathir, the daughter of influential former premier Mahathir Mohamad.
Marina is a long-time activists for the LGBT community and has threatened to sue TV3 if they defamed Seksualiti Merdeka again in the same manner. Her fierce defense has given pause to the BN's erstwhile relentless attack.
"I am very angry, very angry, there are no words to describe, at certain parties calling this a free sex festival. You have nothing better to do? Nowhere here is free sex allowed. Are you crazy to imagine this?” Marina told the press conference on Monday.
Quick to change tune
Among the first to change tune was MCA president Chua Soi Lek, who ambiguously said there was nothing if the event was held in a low profile manner
"If they want to hold this in a very low-profile manner, I see no reason why not. But if they do it as a festival that runs for days, then it may provoke people who may not agree with it," Chua told reporters at the MCA headquarters on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ambiga too has hit back at the authorities and the Umno-linked groups for stirring up hatred against the minority group. Some had gone so far as to call the LGBT "animals" while others questioned their right to even call themselves a "community".
“Have we no shame in this country? Please show some caring for them,” Ambiga told a press conference.
Malaysia Chronicle
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