LGBT discussion probably dropped due to fear of netizens' reactions, says Numan

LGBT activist Numan Afifi has expressed disappointment that the airing of a dialogue session involving him had to be postponed.

“Maybe they felt threatened by the reaction of the netizens so they decided to postpone, which I find disappointing.

“Because it is not like our discussion touched on overly-controversial matters anyway,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

The dialogue with Numan was originally supposed to air on the ‘Let’s Talk’ program on Astro Awani on May 14 at 10.15pm.

However, just a few hours before the slotted airtime, the program’s host Sharaad Kuttan announcer via Twitter that the airing will be postponed and he apologised to Numan and his viewers.

Numan said they spoke in the dialogue about issues relating to discrimination, legalities and the stigma faced by the LGBT community at work, in the school and other such places.

“I am just a human speaking, not an alien. I don’t think there should be an issue, we are not inviting people for sex.

“(The issues discussed) are social issues, which I think most people would like to know about, and when they hear it, I think they will understand why.

“The problem is there are those who maybe have political ambitions who see this as a sensational issue and are trying to scare people with it. Actually, there is no problem,” he said.

Numan also pointed out that the government itself had said those from the LGBT community have rights as citizens of the country, and he also brought up Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah’s remarks at the United Nations where he said LGBT issues are no longer taboo in Malaysia.

Saifuddin had said in a UN convention in Geneva on Feb 26 that more space is being given to hold effective discussions on human rights including previously taboo issues such as religious freedom and LGBT issues.

Numan believes Malaysia is actually long overdue in having a dialogue involving the LGBT community themselves. 

He said a lack of understanding sometimes leads people to take their own actions against the community such as the beating of two LGBT members last year.

“There have always been dialogues and forums by the religious department or universities but usually it does not involve members from the LGBT community.

“They will usually bring out so-called LGBT experts like academicians or uztaz who are not from the LGBT community.

“Those speaking on the community are not from the community itself but they are those who make their own assumptions. That is not a dialogue, but a ceramah,” Numan said.

The activist also criticised the government who he claims wants to shove this issue to the minister in charge of religious affairs.

“Every time it goes back to Mujahid (Yusof Rawa). Actually, this issue doesn’t fall only under religion.

“The home ministry, the women’s ministry, the education ministry, they are all involved,” he said.

Even though the government does not acknowledge the LGBT community, Numan said they have rejected discrimination against the community which is why this issue needs to be brought up in a dialogue.

“We do not have a platform to express our opinions which is dangerous to the LGBT community specifically because the (dialogues) are all one-sided.

“The government has also said they are anti-discrimination (against the LGBT community) so why can’t we talk about anti-discrimination?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, the Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) vice chairperson Kamaruzzaman Mohamad said he agrees that the LGBT community should be given the space to voice their opinions.

However he claimed it should not be done publicly because it will seem to promote the ideas and lifestyle of the community.

“Personally I sympathise with those who are trapped with the ideas of the LGBT community.

“They should be given space to express their opinions and a response should be given that they have actually strayed from human instinct as created by nature itself,” he said.

The community can express their views in a closed space, he said, meaning only to certain parties and government authorities and not to a public audience.

Kamaruzzaman claimed that LGBT clearly goes against the laws in the country as well as any religion in the world which is why it should not be discussed publicly, let alone broadcasted on a mainstream channel.

“When such views enter TV, it is as if we are giving a signal that the government of the day is not trying to stop activities which are clearly against the laws of the country,” he said.  - Mkini