Malaysians lampoon minister over stress-gay link: ‘they never work hard in parliament?’

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Joseph SipalanJanuary 28, 2026 at 06:37 AM

AI Summary

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A Malaysian minister, Zulkifli Hasan, is facing widespread ridicule after suggesting that work stress can contribute to homosexuality. The statement, made in a parliamentary reply, cited a 2017 study and listed work stress alongside societal influence and sexual experiences as potential factors influencing LGBT identity. This comes amid increased scrutiny of Malaysia's LGBTQ community, following recent police action against a camping retreat accused of promoting LGBTQ lifestyles. The minister's comments have sparked significant backlash on social media, with many users mocking the claim and questioning its validity. The incident highlights the ongoing pressure and discrimination faced by sexual minorities in Malaysia.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sulaiman et al 50% Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff 60% PAS 70% Malaysia ×280% Zulkifli Hasan ×390%

Keywords

lgbtq 100% malaysia 90% sexual orientation 80% work stress 70% minister 60% government intervention 50% social media 50% sexually deviant behaviour 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Malaysia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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lgbtq malaysia sexual orientation work stress minister government intervention social media sexually deviant behaviour

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