The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has joined the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) in citing LGBT issues as the reason their delegates voted against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) global treaty to improve protection for workers facing violence and harassment.

"Yes, Malaysian employers voted against both the convention and recommendations. Both the convention and recommendations are very much based on the ideals of most advanced countries and failed to take into account the sensitivities of Malaysian culture and Islam as the official religion of Malaysia,” MEF president Shamsudin Bardan (above) told Malaysiakini...