Penang state secretary Farizan Darus said today that he ordered photos of two LGBT activists to be removed from a George Town Festival exhibit after receiving complaints from various quarters.
Among the complainants, he said, was Prime Minister’s Office, despite an earlier denial by a spokesperson.
Farizan also denied that the other complaints he received were from a local Facebook page known for its negative remarks about the Penang government.
"I went to the exhibition myself on Tuesday, I saw the photos and gave the instruction to the festival director Joe Sidek.
"We respect the group (LGBT community), but not the publicity or promotion of it," he said.
Earlier today, it was reported that portraits of activists Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik would be removed from artist Mooreyameen Mohamad’s ‘Strokes and Stripes’ exhibit at the festival.
‘No big issue’
At an earlier press conference at the Penang state legislative assembly, Farizan said the matter was not a big issue.
"However, promoting LGBT is against our values. You can debate the issue in the Penang assembly.
Farizan's remarks come after admission by de facto Islamic Affairs minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa that the photos were removed in line with his department's stand on LGBT rights.
"This is in line with our stand. LGBTs are still unacceptable and cannot be promoted. I fear a backlash on them, since the society still rejects their promotion.
"The organiser (of the festival) should be more sensitive to respect and conserve the majority views," the minister had told Malaysiakini.
Among the portraits of 20 Malaysians featured in Mooreyameen’s exhibit are those of DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang and PKR Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Both LGBT activists expressed their dissatisfaction over the move, with Nisha saying that this was not the government of the ‘new Malaysia’ she had voted for.
According to Mooreyameen, he was told the removal instructions came from the PMO.
The festival director has declined to comment on the controversy. -Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.