A Barisan Nasional backbencher today called on the government to establish a homosexual rehabilitation centre to prevent same-sex relationships from getting rampant in the country.

Baharum Mohamad (BN-Sekijang) said the centre should offer suitable treatment and therapy for those involved to leave and avoid homosexual activities.

"We have to find a solution to combat these activities from getting rampant just like the efforts we take to combat drugs.

"A study has found that, right now, three out of 10 men in Malaysia are gay. This is scary," he said when debating the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

Baharum said cooperation from all quarters, however, was needed to ensure success of the effort.

NONE Meanwhile, a reading error by an opposition member in Parliament made Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) to lose his cool when the name of the government agency linked to exporting palm oil to Israel was wrongly mentioned.

Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri) when debating on the royal address mistakenly mentioned the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) as having links with two companies said to be exporting palm oil to Israel when the allegation meant another land agency Felda.

Can be referred to rights committee

The claim made Tajuddin, who is the chairman of Felcra, to blow his top and challenged Er to make the statement outside or withdraw his statement which Tajuddin described as 'baseless slander.'

In his speech, Er mentioned Felcra as the largest shareholder of two companies said to have a factory in Johor which exported the commodity Israel.

NONE Er's (right) mistake was repeated by Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) who joined in the fray by saying that if Felcra was sending palm oil to Israel, then it was helping the Zionist state to oppress Palestine.

Tajuddin's anger continued in the afternoon session when he insisted Er withdraw his statement even though the DAP member had made the correction and admitted that he was referring to Felda and not Felcra.

Referring to the issue, speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia later decided that he was giving Er and Mahfuz room to withdraw their statements and for the minister to reply to the allegation raised.

Should the two opposition members of parliament insist on maintaining their statements, they can be referred to the rights and privileges committee if the minister's explanation proves the allegation to be wrong.

- Bernama