PSM Youth postpones LGBTQ+ event over safety concerns

Summary

• PSM Youth announces the postponement of its LGBTQ+ workshop over safety concerns, but reiterates its readiness to engage with the government.

• Chairperson Amanda Shweeta Louis, however, says PSM Youth stands against hatred and repression against sexual minorities.

• This comes after a minister criticised the workshop, followed by condemnation from Abim and Perkasa.

PSM Youth has postponed its LGBTQ+ workshop due to participants’ safety concerns after receiving backlash from conservative groups.

Chairperson Amanda Shweeta Louis said PSM Youth remains open to dialogue with the government, along with organisations such as Suhakam and the Malaysian Bar as facilitators.

“The reaction from both the public and the minister reflects the rising irrationality and hatred towards gender minorities, even though the programme is in the public’s interest to curb the spread of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). 

“PSM Youth stands firmly against this wave of hatred and repression. We will not stay silent while vulnerable groups are threatened with violence and denied their dignity, whether by the state or by the public,” she said in a statement today.

On Wednesday (May 28), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar said that the government rejects all attempts at normalising LGBTQ+ culture.

He was commenting on PSM Youth’s “Pride Care: Queer Stories & Sexual Health Awareness” programme in conjunction with Pride Month.

Na’im said the organisation of such programmes challenges the moral and religious values of Malaysians, even if it were to be held behind closed doors.

He called for authorities to investigate the programme and take legal action if it violates the law, while urging the event organisers to halt any activities that go against society’s moral values.

Hateful comments, death threats

Elaborating, Amanda said that Na’im’s statement has led to increased hateful comments and death threats on PSM’s social media pages.

“Is violence and hatred the culture we want to ‘normalise’ in Malaysia?

“The minister must be more careful with his statements not to create animosity and hatred between Malaysians of different backgrounds.

“He is contradicting his statement from February, where he emphasised the need to be cautious with one’s words, especially regarding the sensitivities of different communities,” she said.

Besides that, she said the workshop aligns with Malaysia's goal to eradicate Aids

“In April 2025, Na’im publicly stressed the importance of a more holistic approach to sexuality education and urged all institutions to play a role in this matter.

“He should understand that this event aligns with the very same principles he has advocated for,” she added.

‘Act against deviant culture’

Last night, both the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) and Malay rights group Perkasa condemned the PSM Youth workshop.

Perkasa chief information officer Irwan Fahmi Ideris demanded that the Home Ministry, the Islamic Development Department, and the police take action.

He also demanded that state religious councils voice their opposition to the workshop.

“Perkasa wishes to stress that the attempt to normalise deviant cultures such as LGBTQ+ is part of an extreme liberal agenda that could undermine the stability of family institutions, corrupt the morals of the younger generation, and destabilise the country’s social structure,” he asserted.

He said LGBTQ+ events contradict Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, which states that Islam is the religion of the federation.

Meanwhile, Selangor Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Adzha Nasarudin said that the rising trend of “deviant culture” practised among youths confirms a need for action.

He pointed to established Islamic-based sex education programmes organised by the Selangor government through the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) as examples of approaches that should be further empowered instead of the PSM Youth workshop.

“Selangor Abim emphasises that freedom should not be used as a pretext to propagate ideologies that contradict human nature and universal human values.

“In Malaysia, and particularly in Selangor, we must not succumb to the pressures of cultural liberalisation that seek to dismantle the civilisational foundations which have long shaped the identity of our nation. 

“Therefore, Selangor Abim calls upon all segments of society to unite in safeguarding the moral and spiritual integrity of this country against the threat of deviant ideologies disguised as human rights, which diverge from the principles of truth,” he said.

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