Dr Mujahid: No one should be discriminated at workplace due to their sexual orientation

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should not be discriminated against in the workplace or any other environment because of their sexual orientation, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic).

Dr Mujahid, who oversees Islamic affairs, said there was no reason to bar anyone from the civil service provided they comply with the social values and workplace culture.

"Any citizen of Malaysia is free and cannot be discriminated in the workplace or deprived of the right to justice.

"As far as sexual orientation is concerned, if they keep quiet and do their work without challenging the system there is no issue, but if they declare openly and feel proud then that will clash with our Islamic values and society, as well as the law that we have in our country," he told reporters after the Royal Address in Parliament on Tuesday (July 17).

Dr Mujahid had been asked to comment on claims that Numan Afifi was pressured to step down as interim press officer to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman due to his sexual orientation.

To that, he said it was up to Numan to prove that he had resigned under duress.

"He chose to resign so I have no comment on that. If there was any pressure then he has to prove by stating he was being pressured.

"Whatever his sexual orientation was, he kept quiet and stepped down without challenging the system," he said.

Dr Mujahid added that he was consistent on the Government's stand on LGBT, which was that it was against the propagation of the culture.

Earlier at the Parliament lobby, Syed Saddiq once again dismissed questions by reporters on his stance on LGBT and Numan's recruitment.

He repeated that the appointment was a misunderstanding and said the media should get more details from Numan.

On another note, Syed Saddiq also said the ministry received 8,000 applications for the post of senior private secretary to the minister.

An LGBT activist, Numan had said he was never officially appointed by the Youth and Sports Ministry, despite his name appearing on its official website.

His name had reportedly been listed on the ministry's website as "special officer", but was removed after the furore over his sexual orientation.