Seksualiti Merdeka hot topic in Parliament
Temperatures rose when Zulkifli Noordin (Independent-Kulim-Bandar Baharu) tried to link the issue of repealing Section 377 of Penal Code with the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 festival became a hot topic of discussion among members of parliament in Dewan Rakyat today.
Debating the Supply Bill 2012 at committee stage (Foreign Affairs Ministry), Zulkifli Noordin (Independent-Kulim-Bandar Baharu) said the programme claimed to be based on human rights is an attempt at repealing Section 377 of Penal Code.
Section 377 of Penal Code states that unnatural sex act is an offence.
Temperatures rose when Zulkifli (right) tried to link the issue of repealing the section with the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
"I'm concerned because sometime ago, an opposition member wanted to repeal Section 377. I wonder whether this event is also for the purpose," he said.
The programme involving S Ambiga held at Annexe Gallery, Pasar Seni begins today until Nov 13 seeks to defend the rights of homosexuals to be accepted in this country.
Free sex party
Zulkifli also claimed that organisers of the controversial programme actually want to promote a free sex party.
He likened Ambiga
(left)
, who led the Bersih protest on July 9, to a caliph who now wants to promote unnatural sex.
This prompted Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) and Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) to stand up and protest the use of the word.
Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) hopes that all parties and the government use approaches other than violence to tackle the homosexual issue.
Although she supported Ambiga in the Bersih issue, Siti Mariah said she could not lend her support for the Seksualiti Merdeka programme.
She suggested that the government amend the Penal Code to make adultery an offence under Section 377 in an effort to check such acts.
- Bernama
Related stories
Police ban Seksualiti Merdeka festival
DPM dismisses Seksualiti Merdeka as 'a waste of time'
NGOs condemn attacks on Seksualiti Merdeka
Pressure mounts against Seksualiti Merdeka event
