The government will not tolerate or support any provisions in international human rights conventions that promote immorality and contravene the country's laws, ethics, religious values and culture. NONE

Foreign Affairs deputy minister Hamzah Zainudin ( right ) said the censure also  includes groups  inclined towards abnormal sex, as well as lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transexuals (LGBT).

 "Hence, before engaging in such international conventions, a thorough and in-depth study must be made before the convention provisions are implemented through the country's legal framework as enshrined in the federal constitution.     

"The study would be an ongoing process as the government needs to ensure that the country's legal system corresponds to the international convention before fully agreeing to participate in it," he said in response to a question from Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) at the adjournment of yesterday's parliamentary session.     

Nevertheless, Hamzah said the government was committed to upholding human rights principles in regard to other groups such as children, women, disabled persons, Orang Asli and the marginalised.

 "As a country that upholds human rights in adherence to international convention standards, the government has never neglected these groups in providing full support to participate in the relevant conventions," he said.     

Meanwhile, Education Deputy Minister P Kamalanathan, responding to Madius Tangau (BN-Tuaran) on the delay in the construction of certain schools and preschools in Sabah, said the hitches had to do with land such as ownership transfer, geography, and planning approval by local authorities as well as water and electricity supply.     

"We have made a series of visits to the project sites as mentioned, including Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pekan Telipok and steps are being taken to overcome them.     

"We have also identified a number of inadequate schools for the purpose of upgrading their infrastructure to provide a conducive learning environment for the students," he said.     

The session will resume on Monday.

- Bernama