Apply Standing Orders Towards Offensive Speech Against Lgbt People

Justice for Sisters is deeply horrified by the discriminatory and offensive speeches and language used in Parliament by several Members of Parliament (MP) in relation to LGBT people on 14 and 18 March 2019 — and that these repeated discriminatory speeches against LGBT people have gone unchecked.

Particularly since the Women’s Day March, debates in Parliament have been tainted by the use of degrading and dehumanizing language such as ‘jijik’ (disgusting) and ‘songsang’ (deviant); sexual innuendos; comparisons of LGBT people to animals; and calls for the arrest, imprisonment, and torture of LGBT persons in Malaysia. These are all forms of extreme, discriminatory and offensive speech that incite hate and violence towards LGBT people.

Furthermore, these discriminatory and anti-LGBT statements are repeatedly made by a handful of people. These repeat offenders include Dato’ Dr. Haji Noor Azmi bin Ghazali [PH- Bagan Serai], and Puan Hajah Siti Zailah binti Mohd Yusoff [PAS-Rantau Panjang].

It is even more disturbing to note Puan Hajah Siti Zailah’s prejudicial sentiments, given the fact she is on the Parliament Select Committee on Gender and Rights. This Committee and its members are guided by the standards set by the UN conventions Malaysia has ratified and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This means upholding the human rights principles and values of equality, non-discrimination, dignity, diversity, respect, and choice for all persons.

Articles 36(4) and 36(10)(c) of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat give guidance to MPs against speaking offensively and promoting feelings of ill-will or hostility between different communities in our country. And yet, in sessions on 14 and 18 March, the MPs were allowed to make vile, hysterical, non-evidence based and fear-mongering statements about LGBT people without consequences.

We call on the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to act on their duty to all Malaysian people to apply the Standing Orders, to which all MPs are bound, and to uphold the fundamental rights and protections that all Malaysian people are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Just as any MP could – and should – invoke these articles to call out offensive speech against groups of people based on their ethnicity, religion or other identities, we call on the Speaker and other MPs to call out those who make offensive remarks against LGBT persons.

Homophobia and transphobia is the same as racism, sexism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination. No religion allows discrimination, violence and coercion towards others. Homophobia and transphobia is not limited LGBTIQ persons. Especially in the Malaysian context, many people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, experience discrimination based on their association with LGBT people or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.

In addition, over the past few years, we have seen an increase of violence, hate crimes and discrimination against LGBT people by diverse actors in various spaces, including educational institutions, workplaces, and homes. We are also seeing an increase of vigilante and anti-LGBT groups employing variousmethods to punish and rehabilitate LGBT people. We are concerned that these statements by public officials will further increase misinformation about and sanction violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Malaysia, with no consequences for the perpetrators.

In ensuring a Malaysia that is harmonious, peaceful and safe for all persons, the speaker of Parliament and MPs have a duty to intervene in discriminatory speeches against LGBT persons, as these speeches have adverse impacts on the perception, attitude and treatment of not only LGBT people, but those who also support the human rights of LGBT persons in Malaysia. Justice for Sisters looks forward to working with the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and MPs who are committed to the wellbeing of all Malaysians and everyone who calls this country home.

ENDS/=

 

Standing Orders of the DEWAN RAKYAT

36 (4) It shall be out of order for Members of the House to use offensive language or make a sexist remark.

36 (10) It shall be out of order to use –

• (c)  words which are likely to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different communities in the Federation or infringe any provision of the Constitution or the Sedition Act 1948.

 

Members of Parliament who have made discriminatory and offensive remarks against LGBT people in Parliament

Parliament session 1 (16 July – 16 August 2018)

• Puan Hajah Siti Zailah binti Mohd Yusoff [Rantau Panjang] (multiple times)
• Tuan Haji Ahmad Amzad bin Mohamed @ Hashim [Kuala Terengganu] (multiple times)
• Dato’ Dr. Noor Azmi bin Ghazali [Bagan Serai] (multiple times)
• Dato’ Haji Ahmad Nazlan bin Idris [Jerantut] (multiple times)
• Ustaz Haji Hassanudin [Hulu Langat] (multiple times)
• Dato’ Tuan Ibrahim bin Tuan Man [Kubang Kerian]
• Dato’ Hajah Azizah binti Mohd Dun [Beaufort]

 

Parliament session 2 (15 October – 11 December 2018)

• Puan Hajah Siti Zailah binti Mohd Yusoff [Rantau Panjang] (multiple times)
• Tuan Haji Ahmad Amzad bin Mohamed @ Hashim [Kuala Terengganu]
• Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi [Bagan Datuk]
• Tuan Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad [Setiawangsa]
• Dato’ Tuan Ibrahim bin Tuan Man [Kubang Kerian]
• Dato’ Dr. Mohd Khairuddin bin Aman Razali [Kuala Nerus]
• Datin Mastura binti Mohd Yazid [Kuala Kangsar]
• Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad bin Haji Maslan [Pontian]
• Dato’ Sri Bung Moktar bin Radin [Kinabatangan]

 

Parliament session 3 (11 March – on-going)

• Dato’ Dr. Haji Noor Azmi bin Ghazali [Bagan Serai] (multiple times)
• Puan Hajah Siti Zailah binti Mohd Yusoff [Rantau Panjang]
• Datuk Haji Hasanuddin bin Mohd Yunus [Hulu Langat]
• Tuan Haji Awang bin Hashim [Pendang]
• Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob [Bera]
• Tuan Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer a/l Rajaji [Jelutong]

This statement was published on Justice for Sisters website