Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa said his meeting with transgender activist Nisha Ayub yesterday did not mean that he had neither agreed to the struggle and action of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) groups.

He said the meeting at the Putrajaya Islamic Complex here was held at Nisha’s request and that he agreed to meet the activist to get a better understanding on the transgender issues, particularly the role of religious institutions in addressing the matter.

“The meeting was more to discuss how to address the discrimination against the community and also solve the problem which involves religious matters, especially when it comes to praying.

“No issue on same-sex marriage was raised in yesterday’s meeting,” he said in a statement in Putrajaya today.

Mujahid said Nisha had stressed that she was no longer an icon for LGBT community but an activist fighting for the rights of the transgender people who were often being marginalised, and to encourage them to come out of the “sex industry”.

On a picture of Nisha being taken down from a photography exhibition in Georgetown, Penang, Mujahid said Nisha did not mind it at all as it was put up without Nisha's permission, the minister said.

Mujahid said the society should eliminate the culture of hate and discrimination towards the community especially in work and public places. 

They are Malaysians too and their rights cannot be denied, he added.

Mujahid said he could not practise favouritism in carrying out missionary work as Islam discouraged Muslims to hurt other humans.

- Bernama