PETALING JAYA: No one should be discriminated against regardless of their lifestyle, says MP Dr Kelvin Yii in response to Perikatan Nasional lawmakers' remarks that the LGBT community should be categorised as people with mental health issues.
"This matter... should be treated with compassion and empathy, not to discriminate (against) anyone regardless of whether you agree with (their) lifestyle or not," the special adviser to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in a tweet on Tuesday (May 23).
ALSO READ: Perikatan MPs suggest LGBT be categorised as a mental disorder
Any such classification had to be based on evidence and science and when it comes to this, the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the reference point," said Dr Yii, a medical doctor.
The suggestion was put forward by Jamaluddin Yahya (PN-Pasir Salak) during the debate on the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 to decriminalise suicide by Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar).
"So do you agree... with my suggestion that the LGBT community be included under the mental disorder category?" Jamaluddin asked.
In response, Halimah said she would consider the suggestion in her speech.
"Thank you, Pasir Salak. Consider it already included in my speech," she replied briefly.
Halimah proceeded with her debate saying that mental disorders posed a huge issue which everyone needed to address.
"We need to sit together to (look at it) holistically and overcome this matter, especially for those who are considering to commit suicide," Halimah said.
ALSO READ: Govt agencies taking steps to curb 'LGBT culture', says Religious Affairs Minister
Meanwhile, netizens also criticised the remarks by the Perikatan MPs.
@yapxiang tweeted that this was the last thing that should have been done while talking about decriminalising suicide.
"Laughing and talking about classifying LGBT as mental illness is definitely the last thing you should do while the august house is debating on decriminalising suicide," the tweet read.
@NiwaHika tweeted that it was a dangerous statement to make.
"Dangerous statement, to include LGBT as part of mental illness is a step to recognise LGBT in Malaysia. Very Dangerous Statement," the tweet read.
