The Ministry of Education (MOE) did not endorse the controversial guidelines to help parents identify gays and lesbians, it said in a statement today.


 &ldquo;Please be informed that the MOE has never endorsed any party to prepare or issue the guidelines for distribution to schools.


 &nbsp;


 &ldquo;In addition, the seminar was organised by an NGO that is concerned with the issue (of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transexuals, LGBT),&rdquo; read the statement published today on the ministry&rsquo;s official Facebook page.


 &ldquo;However, the MOE views cases of social ills seriously and would constantly give direct and indirect guidance to all students to avoid getting involved in unhealthy activities.&rdquo; it added.


 <img align="right" alt="Dr Puad Zarkashi" height="218" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/163/a4b70d0e4531ecee1442fa2f37bc0ded.jpg" width="160"/>
 According to
 
 Sin Chew Daily
 
 , the guidelines were published by Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Association, and
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/208795" target="_blank">
 
 was launched
 
 </a>
 on Sept 13 at a seminar officiated by Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi (
 
 right
 
 ).


 
 Sinar Harian
 
 quoted the deputy minister as saying that detecting the symptoms of gays and lesbians was the best approach to address the spread of such unhealthy phenomenon among students.


 "Youths are easily influenced by websites and blogs relating to LGBT groups. This can also spread among their friends. We are worried that this happens during school time," Puad purportedly told some 1,500 teachers and parents.


 One of the identified symptoms for gays include having a muscular body and like to show it off by wearing V-neck and sleeveless clothes, whilst lesbians would distance themselves from other women besides their partners.


 
 
 &lsquo;Prejudicial and stigmatising&rsquo;
 
 


 Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin told Malaysiakini that the guidelines, should it exists, is wrong.


 &ldquo;I want to see whether this is true or not. I want confirmation. If it is true, I think the guidelines are wrong.


 &ldquo;It is prejudicial and stigmatising for us to single out certain groups. It should not be done,&rdquo; he said when met at the open house of three Umno wings at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) yesterday.


 <img align="left" alt="khairy jamaluddin bn youth volunteers 240612" height="258" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/491/6f7f14489fcb2c0916b706f797ba68f2.jpg" width="180"/>
 The Rembau MP also expressed concern that the guidelines would alienate LGBTs from mainstream society, whereas people ought to approach them and try to understand their issues.


 He suggested that if there is a message to be sent out, it should be done through education rather than through the guidelines.


 &ldquo;There is no need for this (guidelines). How are we supposed to interpret based on physical (looks)? It is unbecoming of us to try to isolate an individual. It is better to focus on education.


 &ldquo;If you want to deliver the message, it can be done through moral education and other measures - no need to issue such guidelines,&rdquo; he said.


 
 


 Additional reporting by Zulaikha Zulkifli.

'Please be informed that the MOE has never endorsed any party to prepare or issue the guidelines for distribution to schools.'


Education Ministry denies endorsing LBGT guidelines

~RM12

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