Pn Supporters Fixate On Lgbt Agenda At Women S March To Tar Govt

---

 


The women’s march, which was held on Sunday for the first time since 2020, aimed to bring people together to call for gender equality, justice and an end to all forms of discrimination against women and girls.
However, rainbow flags and their symbolism have obfuscated all these issues for some Perikatan Nasional (PN) supporters.
Several seemingly pro-PN TikTok accounts had focused solely on the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups at the march celebrating International Women’s Day.
Checks by Malaysiakini found that one of the PN-leaning TikTok accounts had also accused the government of siding with the LGBT community while oppressing freelance preachers such as Azhar Idrus and Wadi Annuar.
“Malaysia Madani is ‘steady’. Arrests were made during Islamic gatherings. But when it comes to LGBT assemblies, it’s all quiet,” claimed one account.
Azhar and Wadi - both allegedly PN supporters - recently had their Islamic lectures at mosques and surau in Selangor cancelled.
This was because they did not have accreditation from the state - but the issue has been used as political fodder against Pakatan Harapan.
Another TikTok account lambasted the march for allowing its participants to hoist LGBT flags.
“What has happened (to Malaysia)?” it asked, with the hashtag #kerajaangagal in its caption.
Call for action
The so-called “pro-LGBT elements” at the march also gained traction with PN lawmakers, who described it as an illegal LGBT rally and urged the government to take stern actions against those responsible for the rise of such groups.
PAS’ Pokok Sena MP Ahmad Yahaya bemoaned that the group is attempting to have society “absorb” them through the desensitisation of the public against the “perverse” culture.
“They have openly carried banners and rainbow flags as a sign of support for the LGBT group.
“They dare come forward to reveal their stance and it was presented through speeches and even in films like ‘Mentega Terbang’,” Ahmad claimed in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The PAS Ulama chief alleged the LGBT groups will, in return, use discrimination as a tool for them to normalise such perversive activities in the country.
His party colleague Ahmad Fadhli Shaari also questioned if the government would introduce harsher legislation to stop the rise of such groups, as it goes against conservative local culture.
Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli ShaariThe PAS Youth chief accused LGBT groups of hijacking the women empowerment agenda during the march so that “the government would give a green light to LGBTs in the country”.
“This is something entirely unacceptable.
"We want action to be taken against all those responsible to ensure that such an incident would not repeat," he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Police probe
On Sunday, Dang Wangi police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said an investigation paper has been opened on the march.
The assembly held in front of the Sogo Complex and Dataran Merdeka is being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and the Minor Offences Act 1955, he added.
The police summoned seven people, comprising participants, speakers, organisers, and observers of the march, for questioning at the Dang Wangi police headquarters at 2.30pm yesterday.
The women’s march organisers condemned the police probe against those involved in the peaceful rally.
The organisers also expressed disheartenment for being penalised for exercising their democratic rights to fight for a better Malaysia.
It reminded Putrajaya that the “i” in the government’s “Malaysia Madani” slogan stood for ihsan (kindness), which states that everyone, especially minorities, must be treated with empathy and kindness.
According to an earlier statement by the organising committee, the march demanded, among others, for child marriages to be banned, for the government to protect bodily autonomy and the freedom of choice, and to enact constitutional and legislative reform to achieve gender equality.
It also called for equal political participation of oppressed genders at all levels of governance and to ensure decent work standards and living wages. - Mkini

---