I am a Malaysian medical doctor with specialist qualifications who had served the country for many years. I am writing in response to the article ' Questions over Suhakam stand on homosexuality ' by JJ Ray, which mentioned of Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun stating that "despite wanting to respect the rights of minorities, the laws of the land needed to be upheld as well".

Recently, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim and the editorial of the New Straits Times raised similar objections. The issue appears to be in reference to the draft resolution entitled 'Human rights and sexual orientation' which was proposed by Brazil last year at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and which will be brought up again this year.

Sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional attraction to another person. In simple word, it refers to the feelings of a person, regardless of what he/she does about it. (See the American Psychological Association website ).

The draft , which is being criticised by Suhakam, the NST editorial and Rais as being against the laws of the land and against religion, stresses that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, that the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question and that the enjoyment of such rights and freedoms should not be hindered in any way on the grounds of sexual orientation and calls upon all states to promote and protect the human rights of all persons regardless of their sexual orientation.

In other words, it says that human rights of everyone is to be respected, regardless of sexual orientation, or in simple words, it means that people should not be harmed solely because of the gender of the people he/she could fall in love with.

I am gay. This means that I fall in love with adults of the same gender. What is natural for straight people is not natural for me, and vice versa. Medical sciences have shown that a certain percentage of humans are like me. I do not chose the person I fall in love with nor can I force myself to fall in love with a particular person. To me, relationship is based on love; which means, total self-giving of a person to the other, including emotionally and physically. (This has nothing to do with rape and violence towards children)

The opinion of Suhakam, Rais and the NST editorial appear to suggest, that the resolution that all people (including people who may fall in love with people of the same gender) have the right not to be harmed, is against religion and the laws of the country.

Ray's article questioning the stand of Suhakam is indeed pertinent as the opinion reported to be expressed by the Suhakam vice-chairperson clearly rejects the notion that human rights is for all people. As a Malaysian, I am very concerned about this development. To me, not supporting the resolution would be a clear statement endorsing such discrimination.