Photographer Mooreyameen Mohamad is adamant that his “Stripes and Strokes” exhibition should remain open at the George Town Festival, despite calls to take down some pieces in solidarity with activists Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik.

Mooreyameen said reaction to the news about the duo's photographs being removed as they purportedly promoted LGBT activities was "fast and furious".

"Since the news broke Wednesday morning, quite a few people featured in the exhibition have asked me or festival director Joe Sidek to remove their photos in protest against the act of censorship and in solidarity with Pang and Nisha.

"There have been questions about whether the entire exhibition will be closed or moved elsewhere, or if more people will be taking down their own portraits in protest," Mooreyameen told Malaysiakini.

"I have also received multiple offers from private galleries to host the exhibition in its entirety, uncensored".

Festival director Sidek removed the photos after Penang state secretary Farizan Darus instructed him to do so.

Farizan said the move followed complaints from the public and the Prime Minister's Department.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Islamic affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa admitted giving the order to remove the portraits (below).

Prior to the incident, the minister had stressed that LGBT culture should not be promoted, but that their rights as citizens should be respected.

He reiterated his stance in a meeting with Nisha yesterday, in which he said that LGBT people should not be discriminated against.

Nisha said in a Facebook post today that while she had previously been unaware that her photo had been chosen for the exhibition, it did not mean that she was unhappy over her inclusion.

Mooreyameen said while he stands in solidarity with Pang and Nisha, and understands the reasons for the protests, he has decided to keep his exhibition at Dewan Sri Pinang running until the scheduled closing date of Sept 2.

He pledged to stay with the George Town Festival for its duration this year.

"I, especially do not want to walk away from Joe Sidek and his amazing team who have worked so hard to put together not just this exhibition, but the entire festival," Mooreyameen said.

" The festival has always been about bringing art to Malaysians and Malaysian art to the world.

" I fully support the aims of the festival and I will stand by Joe Sidek in fulfilling his wonderful vision," the artist added.

Sparking important conversations

Mooreyameen said this incident had sparked some important conversations about our nationhood and who we are as the people of Malaysia.

Clearly, there is a lot to discuss still, he added, because there is a lot of disagreement.

"But I believe in engaging with one another, in conversations, and even with those who do not share our views on human rights.

"As much as we like the idea of #NewMalaysia, nobody promised us it was going to be easy," he noted.

"And as difficult as some of these conversations are, eventually we must have them, sooner or later. Why not now?"

"After all, what is art if it does not generate conversations?" he asked.

Mooreyameen expressed his apology that Pang and Nisha, who he described as "two amazing Malaysians", had been unfairly targeted.

Even so, he said, he wanted this conversation to continue as many would too, and that he intended to "stay in this conversation and not walk away."

"I want people to ask why, to share their feelings, and to express their emotions about whatever issues that are related to what the idea of being Malaysian means.

"That was why I started the project anyway," Mooreyameen said.

In his statement at the exhibition, Mooreyameen had expressed that he had stayed back in Malaysia because he believed in the kindness, generosity, and resilience of his fellow Malaysians.

He stated that he had never left the country because he could not bear to leave his fellow Malaysians behind.

"This incident presents itself as a clear opportunity for me to stand by my own words and more importantly, my beliefs.

"Let people talk. Let people challenge. Let people ask questions. Let people answer each other’s questions.

"As a nation, we should learn to talk to each other, and perhaps create some understanding along the way, bit by bit, day by day," he said.

"But you can only do that if you stay in the conversation.

"Lest it be misunderstood, the directive to remove the portraits of Pang and Nisha breaches our rights as Malaysians to artistic expression.

"I will continue to assert our rights. I am staying and I am not walking away. Please come and visit. And talk about it," he said.