KUALA TERENGGANU: More proactive approaches are needed to help transgender men and women leave the sex industry, said Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic).

Mujahid said such proactive approaches could help such people build better lives for themselves.

"Almost 80% of transgender men and women work in the sex industry and our main goal is to get them out of that.

"We want them to be more independent by offering them education and business opportunities in hopes of helping them solve any problems they may be facing," he said.

The minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affairs said a more effective way of helping transgender men and women and others in the LGBTQ community is by engaging and learning their needs and concerns.

"Existing laws alone are not enough to deal with issues among the LGBTQ community but engaging with them and understanding their issues will pay off in the long run," he said.

Mujahid was officiating at a seminar organised by the Terengganu Religious Affairs department to discuss and understand issues concerning the LGBTQ community.

About 300 delegates, many of whom are counselors, medical professionals and NGO members attended the seminar.