Ustaz Hanafiah Abd Malek blamed apps such as WeChat for causing the LGBT movement to grow strongly in Malaysia.— Reuers pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — The Malaysian government should adopt North Korea’s strict control of the internet to handle the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, an Islamic religious teacher has said.

Ustaz Hanafiah Abd Malek reportedly gave examples of the online control measures used by North Korea, such as tight monitoring of all websites and restricting access to only a few websites.

“This move should be followed by Malaysia in order to control this deviant symptom. Besides Facebook and the likes, the application that is most dangerous in causing this movement to grow strongly is WeChat. Through this medium, this LGBT group starts to connect and expand,” he was quoted as saying by local daily Sinar Harian.

“Whether it is the LGBT movement or other troubled teenagers that we found. Most communicate through WeChat. Using the ‘touch & go’ concept, they have sex and illegitimate children are born,” he added.

Hanafiah said the LBGT movement holds on to legal rights and was growing stronger by the day, adding that it now dares to challenge the national institutions and wants to change the country’s Constitution. He claimed that this was happening both in Malaysia and abroad.

He said the LGBT group uses slogans like “gay is okay” and “people like us” to influence others, adding that they would demand for their rights when they feel their movement has grown in strength.

Hanafiah, who is both adviser and patron of Pertubuhan Amal Firdausi, said the non-governmental organisation offers a platform for the LGBT community to turn over a new leaf and helps those infected with HIV to receive treatment.

He said he has been approaching the LGBT community together with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), adding that both he and the government body were well-received.

“Through the slot of ask ustaz held at Lorong Haji Taib, we listen to and delve into problems that arise. The result is they agreed to join programmes and trainings that are held in the future,” he said, noting that such programmes have been held since 2011.