The US Embassy in Malaysia today put up a photo of LGBT activist Nisha Ayub holding the Malaysian flag, just days after the same photo was taken down from a Merdeka art exhibition in Penang.

The photo on Instagram came with the caption: "Pictures are worth a thousand words, but actions speak even louder. We stand proudly with 2016 International Women of Courage Award winner Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik and the work they do to promote tolerance and acceptance."

Photos of Nisha and Pang were removed from the “Stripes and Strokes” exhibition by photographer Mooreyameen Mohamad at the George Town Festival on Tuesday.

The photos were removed after complaints from the Prime Minister's Department.

De facto religious affairs minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa said that the photos were removed in line with his department's stand on LGBT.

Mujahid has had a hard time playing a balancing act as conservatives have demanded that he take tougher action against the LGBT community while LGBT activists, in turn, have criticised him for not standing up for the rights of minorities.

Mujahid, who is also Amanah's Parit Buntar MP, had said that the LGBT culture should not be promoted but at the same time, the rights of LGBT persons as a citizen should be respected.

However, both sides have taken issue with Mujahid statement for not going far enough.