KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is set to go ahead and impose heavier punishments against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community by increasing the sentencing limits in the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).
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Despite outcry from rights groups and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) earlier this year, religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said Putrajaya will be continuing with amending Act 355 as LGBT culture is not just against Islamic law but even human nature.
“So we cannot accept such practices. We just need to manage the issue with wisdom, inviting and educating them (the LGBT community) to return to the right path,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
When asked whether the amendment would be tabled at the next Parliament sitting, he said this was yet to be decided but added that the ministry was “heading in that direction”.
“If there are no obstructions and the situation allows for it, we will go to Parliament (to table it) soon,” he said, adding that the amendment must be approved by the Cabinet first.
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Zulkifli also urged cosmetics entrepreneur Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, or better known as Nur Sajat, to come forward and meet the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The former federal territories mufti told the 35-year-old to hash out any issues with JAIS, adding that it would be better for the matter to be resolved amicably.
Sajjad is believed to be abroad currently, with the police struggling to track him down.-FMT