The Malaysian Prime Minister, on an official visit to Thailand, reiterates: "In the West they ignore marriage and family, why follow them?". Malaysia gives Islamic tribunals the right to treat religious and family matters for Muslim citizens.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) - The claims of the LGTB community are "Western values" and Malaysia "cannot accept the recognition of same-sex marriages" stated Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, responding to those who denounce a growing intolerance towards homosexuals in the country.
During an intervention at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, on the second day of his visit to Thailand, the 93 year old Mahathir declared this morning: " At this moment, we do not accept LGBT but if they (the West) want to accept, that is their business. Don't force it on us ".
He added: "The institution of marriage, the institution of the family has now been disregarded in the West. Why should we follow that? Our value system is as good? ".
Malaysia operates on a two-track legal system, which gives Islamic tribunals the right to treat religious and family matters for Muslim citizens, who make up over 60% of the population. Previously, the Islamic Affairs Minister has also spoken out against homosexuals, and already in September Mahathir declared that their unions are not suitable for the country.
" For example in the west now, men marry men, women marry women, and then the family is not made up of father, mother and child, but it's two men adopting one child from somebody… They call themselves a family ... ", concluded Mahathir.