PAS has reminded Muslims not to be influenced by Westerners who adopt the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lifestyle.

Its vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, who is also Kelantan deputy menteri besar, said Muslims should stick to the religious teachings as the LGBT lifestyle is not normal.

"That is why Allah destroyed these people especially the worst of them during the time of Prophet Lot where Allah had capsized or turned the city upside down so that their bodies could not be found.

"This shows committing sodomy is a horrible sin and this has also been mentioned in the Bible.

"We do not hate this group of people but we do sympathise with them and we want to guide them to the right path," he told reporters after the state cabinet meeting at the Kota Darul Naim Complex today.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mujahid Yusuf Rawa was reported as saying Malaysians, including people who identify as LGBT, should not be discriminated against at the workplace.

This was following the controversy surrounding Numan Afifi departure as special officer to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman earlier this month.

Syed Saddiq was criticised for hiring Numan on grounds that the latter was gay.

Mohd Amar said Islam does not discriminate against anyone but moral qualities and virtues have been prescribed in Islamic religious teachings.

"Indeed, we do not discriminate in terms of rights but there are certain practices which have been forbidden in Islam and adopting the LGBT culture is not permissible.

"We cannot allow the situation to continue and as Muslims we should try to encourage these people to repent and correct themselves," he said.

- Bernama