KUALA LUMPUR: Sex education should not be viewed as 'taboo', said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

While children must be taught about sex while at home, Dr Mujahid said that sex education was crucial in dealing with LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and the nation's growing sexual problems.

"We cannot consider sex education as something taboo any longer, but as a means to educate so that we can prevent them from getting trapped in the context of Islam and other religions," he said when replying a question raised by Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut) in Dewan Rakyat today (July 23).

Ahmad Nazlan wanted to know what action was being taken by the Government to check the spread of the LGBT in the country, in line with the teachings of Islam.

Ahmad Nazlan claimed that there were some 620,000 individuals from the local LGBT community who uses social media to promote their lifestyle.

"Is the Government aware that there are individuals from their respective LGBT community that are openly using social media as a platform to promote their products?

"This includes promoting their gay, extravagant and glamorous lifestyle, mainly among the young who may be influenced, " Ahmad Nazlan added.

Dr Mujahid, who is charge of religious affairs, said the nation's LGBT community were allowed to practice their lifestyle, but were subject to existing laws.

He cited Section 377A of the Penal Code as being a crime under federal law.

Section 377A makes anal and oral sex a crime punishable by a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping.

He noted that LGBTs were also bound by the respective state Islamic syariah laws against cross-dressing, homosexuality and lesbianism.

However, Dr Mujahid stressed that LGBTs enjoyed rights under the Federal Constitutions against discrimination.

"The group cannot be oppressed at their work place or be victimised and treated cruelly," he added.

He said the Government is continuously engaging LGBTs at the community level through various programmes and seminars, in the hope of helping them turn a new leaf.

He added the latest being an upcoming seminar in Terengganu involving some 200 LGBTs.

Earlier, Dr Mujahid noted that LGBT was now known as LGBTIQ.