A pamphlet citing unnamed research about gay people by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and distributed in Kuala Lumpur has left people scratching their heads.

Among claims made are that homosexuals experience "considerably higher level of mental illness and substance abuse"and "are less likely to be sexually faithful to a partner".

The English language pamphlets titled "10 Myths about Homosexuality", bearing Jakim's name, also said people can't be born gay and sexual orientation can be fixed.

"Thousands of men and women have testified to experiencing a change in their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.

"Research confirms that such change does occurs- sometimes spontaneously and sometimes as a result of therapeutic interventions," read the pamphlet which was distributed in Masjid Jamek on Saturday.

A check found the so-called research was lifted from a publication under the same title by US-based Family Research Council (FRC).

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights law group which has initiated cases against the likes of white supremacist group Ku Klax Klan, classifies FRC as a hate group.

Jakim earlier that while it does not support LGBT activities, it also does not encourage condemnation.

In response to a Federal Court judgement recognising the rights of the transgender community last year, the state Islamic body invited the transgender community to join spiritual camps instead.

The camps, it said, are voluntary and aimed at building self-esteem, spirituality and rehabilitation.

“We have never forced anyone to join the programmes but we promote in on the ground and through Facebook,” Jakim director Othman Mustapha said.

More than 1,000 transgender people have attended the camps since 2010, he said.