Human rights NGO Suaram Penang today announced that the ‘Pink Dot Penang 2014' event to celebrate human rights and freedom of expression has been postponed indefinitely due to “security reasons”, following protests from Muslim groups.

Suaram Penang said it made the decision as it wants to ensure the personal safety and security of the participants and the organisers.

Suaram Penang is part co-organiser of the event together with two NGOs, Rainbow Coalition and Penang Freedom to Love.

Suaram Penang denied that the event is a "sex party" as alleged, saying “the minority community needs such an occasion for meaningful discussion and self-help”.

“It is not a sex party as some groups have slandered it to be,” said Suaram Penang in a statement today.

The NGO said it decided to be part of the programme to uphold the right to freedom of expression in line with UN human rights principles.

“We believe that a better understanding of these differing views can be attained through amicable dialogues.

"We appeal to good faith and reasons to attain such an understanding,” the NGO added.

The cancellation decision came after the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) complained that the event to be held at the 1926 Heritage Hotel on Mar 29 was to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) relationships.

Abim secretary Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz described the event as celebrating “free love” between LGBT persons, saying this was “against the values of all religions and cultures in Malaysia”.

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) described the event as a “deviant sex festival”.

Posters of the event, which announced the programme to include a workshop and gathering, had been circulating on the Internet.

Perkasa Penang has lodged four police reports on the event at the Balik Pulau station and have turned up to “discuss” the matter with hotel manager Peter Pedley.

Balik Pulau Perkasa information chief Mohd Mat Padli Ismail said the organisation strongly opposed any event related to LGBTs.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as we will not allow such programmes in Penang or Malaysia,” he said at a press conference at the hotel today.

“We are tolerant but will not compromise when it comes to activities that threaten the peace and morals off our society,” he added

Perkasa has a ‘monitoring team’

State Perkasa Youth chief Mohd Ridzuan Azudin said Perkasa has a “monitoring team” to keep the state free of these activities and had decided to lodge police reports after an emergency meeting among members last night.

“We hope the state government and the hotel will take note of the matter before any untoward incident happens to the hotel (kerosakan berlaku) as we do not what will happen if the programme continues,” he added.

Hotel manager Peter Pedley, who was with Perkasa at the press conference, said the event has been cancelled as the hotel does not condone such activities, as alleged by the group.

“When booking the venue, the organisers said it was for a meeting. We do not know the content the event,” he told reporters.

The state PAS Youth expressed its appreciation to Pink Dot Penang organisers for respecting religious sensitivities by cancelling the porgramme.

State PAS Youth secretary Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden also congratulated state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim on his “proactive response” when addressing the issue.

“We are planning to meet the Pink Dot Penang organisers to state our stand in the matter in a diplomatic and dignified manner,” added Afnan Hamimi, who is also state PAS Youth propagation bureau deputy chief.