Published: Tuesday June 19, 2012 MYT 4:45:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday June 19, 2012 MYT 6:04:17 PM
Dr Mashitah: No constitutional protection for LGBT
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS
KUALA LUMPUR: The Constitution does not allow a citizen to be discriminated for his religious belief and gender but does not say anything about one's sexual orientation.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim told Parliament that even though Article 8 of the Federal Constitution protects one from gender discrimination, the word gender should not be interpreted as a person's sexual orientation such as being a lesbian, gay or bisexual.
“The protection given by the Federal Constitution is meant for men and women,” she told Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas).
She said the National Registration Department does not allow a man who had undergone sex change to become a woman to make changes to his name in the identity card following a decision by the Fatwa Council that sex change is haram.
Dr Mashitah said the Fatwa Council which met to discuss the issue said any sex change operation was against the religion.
"Only those who are born with two sex organs can undergo an operation.
"Therefore, the NRD will have to adhere to the decision made by the council,” she said in response to a question by Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN-Setiu).
She said the Syriah Criminal Offence Act 1997 stipulates that enforcement and action could only be taken against Muslim offenders, prostitution and pimping.
She said action could also be taken against Muslims under Section 25 for sodomy, and lesbians and transvestites under Section 28.
- NS trainee gives birth in camp toilet
- Sabah Railway train rams car driven by Hong Kong tourist, driver in critical condition
- Ex-judge calls for rebranding of vernacular schools
- Berapit rep assaulted after advising woman not to conduct open burning
- Penang freak storm: Video clip of lightning arrester collapse uploaded on YouTube
- No brotherly love - man attacked and robbed by his twin
- Black 505 rally supporters stage another flash mob in KL
- Subramaniam: Health Ministry to set up operation rooms where API exceeds 200
- Penang freak storm: Police complete probe, no human remains found in car wreckage
- Delays in KLIA2 opening affecting AirAsia's expansion plans, says CEO
- Open sale of sex stimulants in Sabah worries Kiulu rep Bangkuai
- Seven out of 12 Opposition reps in Sabah want Lajim as chief
- Robbery at sea of cargo ship being investigated, unsure if pirates involved, say police
- Fire and Rescue Department: 14 areas highly susceptible to forest fires identified
- Judicial Review application filed to declare appointment of ministers unconstitutional
- Kulim suspended on Thursday for corporate announcement
- Petronas Dagangan eyes regional airports to expand jet fuel biz
- KLCI ends in the red, BAT, UMW down (Update)
- Gloom lifted from MRCB Southern Link as ratings upgraded
- Malaysia's May inflation rate up 1.8% on-year
- Nazir: Bank of Commerce talks to conclude shortly
- Japan's exports pick up pace, give economy momentum
- Asia business sentiment rises in second quarter, global growth risk still dominates
- Moody's: Outlook on China's life insurance industry stable
- AIA and Public Bank offer new insurance plans
- Tambun Indah plans RM200m capex to expand landbank
- Tune Ins sees healthy growth as air travel, tourism pick up
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Blue chips edge higher in volatile trade (Update)
- Eversendai tendering for RM8b of projects
- Singapore smog reaches record high (Updated)
- India monsoon floods leave 138 dead
- Turkey's 'silent man' vigils go on as protests fizzle out
- French floods claim first victim, Lourdes remains closed
- Thousands evacuated after blasts at Russian arms depot
- Bieber off hook after car hits photographer
- Mexico arrests man on FBI's top 10 Most Wanted list
- Disabled woman, US child held captive with snakes
- World's largest all-solar-powered boat shines in NYC
- Samoan airline introduces 'XL' class
- West Africa has world's worst piracy rate
- Congolese teacher admits killing elephants for ivory: WWF
- NASA enlists public in hunt for major asteroids
- Nadal seeded five at Wimbledon
- NBA: Heat beat Spurs to force game seven
- FedEx eyes record win at Wimbledon
- Brazilian Massa looking ahead to team’s revival
- V Shem-Khim Wah face tough opener in Singapore Open
- Springboks’ De Villiers may miss final
- Results worldwide
- Former world junior champ Zulfadli in main draw
- Star Wallaby winger fit to face Lions
- Hesson laments NZ’s failure to grab chance
- Omega Pharma pin Tour hopes on Mark
- Shahidan needs Cabinet nod to hold posts, says Khairy
- Direct flight now to Naypyitaw for Malaysian SEA Games squad
- Aussie Kulacz hopes to repeat 2009 Selangor Masters triumph
- India’s Anirban relying on short putter for success
- Two-year-old makes touching request at her dad’s funeral
- Rush to escape storm proves deadly
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- CCTV to shed light on missing hawker
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Medium threatens couple with black magic
- Mentally disabled man missing since Sunday
- New DAP man turns on his party after elections
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now
- Ex-judge calls for rebranding of vernacular schools
- Inter-Pacific Research values AirAsia X at RM1.66
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- Penang freak storm: Video clip of lightning arrester collapse uploaded on YouTube
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Penang freak storm: Police complete probe, no human remains found in car wreckage
- Talks on the proposed M’sia-Spore Rapid Transit System still going on
- Hong Kong probes HSBC, other banks for alleged misconduct
RSS
