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Overwhelming opposition to same-sex marriage in Malaysia revealed in Pew Research Center survey

A recent Pew Research Center study reveals that 8 out of 10 Malaysians oppose legalizing same-sex marriage, with only 17% in favor. The survey highlights the strong societal resistance to this issue in Malaysia.

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1 year ago

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MALAYSIA: A recent Pew Research Center survey across six Asian countries unveils that a staggering eight out of 10 Malaysians are against legalising same-sex marriages.

Only 17% of respondents in Malaysia expressed support for such legalisation, ranking it second-lowest among surveyed nations, with Indonesia at a mere 5%.

The survey highlights that the strongest resistance to legalising same-sex marriage was found in Indonesia, with 95% opposing, followed closely by Malaysia at 82% among the 1,999 respondents.

Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority nation, also exhibited substantial opposition at 69%.

In Singapore, where no single religious group holds a majority, opinions were divided, with 51% opposing and 45% supporting legal same-sex marriage.

Notably, Thailand and Cambodia, both Buddhist-majority countries, recorded the highest levels of support for same-sex marriage, with 60% and 57% of respondents in favour, respectively.

Religious breakdowns within Malaysia show that Buddhists exhibited the highest level of support for legalising same-sex marriage at 59%, followed by Hindus at 49%, Christians at 35%, and only 8% of Muslims polled expressing support.

The survey points out that Buddhists across the surveyed nations were generally more supportive of same-sex marriage than Muslims and Christians.

“Overall, Buddhists are much more likely than Muslims and Christians to support gays and lesbians marrying legally,” the survey report said.

Singapore, however, had a unique dynamic, with those without religious affiliation (62%) showing stronger support for legalising same-sex marriage than Buddhists.

Across the board, support for legalising same-sex marriage was consistently low among Muslims, with only 4% in Indonesia expressing support. Christians displayed somewhat higher support but still remained below 35% in all countries surveyed.

“By contrast, no more than about a quarter of Muslims in any country surveyed support legal same-sex marriage, including just 4% in Indonesia.

“Support for allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry is somewhat more common among Christians, but still no higher than 35% in any of the countries studied,” the report said.

Pew Research Center noted that same-sex marriage is not legal in any of the six countries surveyed.

In Malaysia, the LGBT community faces legal challenges under Section 377A of the Penal Code, which covers the offence of “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and which makes oral and anal sex illegal for all citizens, and state Shariah laws further criminalise homosexual relations and cross-dressing.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made it clear that his administration does not recognize the LGBT community, secularism, or communism.

The Pew Research Center conducted the survey, titled “Buddhism, Islam, and Religious Pluralism in South and Southeast Asia,” from 1 June 2022, to 4 September 2022, with 13,122 adults interviewed across the six countries.

In Malaysia, 1,999 adults were polled using computer-assisted telephone interviewing with mobile phones.

The margin of error for the Malaysian data is 3.0 percentage points.

The religious demographics of respondents in Malaysia were as follows: 75% identified as Muslims, 10% as Christians, 7% as Buddhists, 5% as Hindus, 2% as having no religion, and 1% as followers of Chinese traditional religions, including Taoism, Confucianism, or local Chinese religions.

According to the 2020 census by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Malaysia’s population consists of 63.5% Muslims, 18.7% Buddhists, 9.1% Christians, 6.1% Hindus, and 2.7% adherents of other religions.

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Civil Society

RSF condemns Malaysian court ruling against British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown

Malaysia’s Federal Court rejected Clare Rewcastle Brown’s appeal against a defamation ruling, leaving her liable for damages over RM 435,000. RSF condemned the decision as an effort to silence the journalist, who is known for reporting on corruption scandals.

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7 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Malaysia’s Federal Court has dismissed British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown’s appeal against a defamation ruling, leaving her liable to pay damages exceeding RM 435,000 (US$103,325).

The defamation suit, which RSF (Reporters Without Borders) describes as part of a broader effort to silence journalists reporting on corruption, relates to a statement in Rewcastle Brown’s 2018 book, The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

The journalist has faced legal challenges ever since, including both civil and criminal cases.

Rewcastle Brown, known for exposing Malaysia’s 1MDB financial scandal, was accused of defaming the Sultanah of Terengganu, the wife of a senior political figure.

The defamation suit stems from a misidentification error in the book, which wrongly stated that the Sultanah, rather than the Sultan’s sister, was connected to a businessman involved in the scandal.

Rewcastle Brown quickly corrected the mistake and issued an apology in 2018. Her legal team has argued that the error does not constitute defamation or criminal libel.

The Sultanah had initially sought RM 100 million in general damages, but the court ultimately awarded a much smaller sum of RM 300,000 (US$71,230) in damages, along with RM 135,000 (US$32,095) in legal costs. Additional fees are expected.

The Federal Court’s decision on 10 September 2024 closes Rewcastle Brown’s legal avenues for appeal in the civil case.

Reporters Without Borders has condemned Malaysia’s handling of the case, asserting that it is intended to intimidate other journalists from reporting on corruption.

Fiona O’Brien, UK Bureau Director of RSF, commented: “This case should never have made it to court. The accusations of defamation are nonsensical. The underlying agenda appears to be to silence Rewcastle Brown and warn other Malaysian journalists away from reporting on corruption.”

In a separate criminal case, Rewcastle Brown was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison in February 2024. She continues to appeal the criminal charges but has faced significant challenges in defending herself. The British government has not commented publicly on her case.

RSF also noted that Malaysia, once ranked 73rd in the World Press Freedom Index, has dropped to 107th in 2024, amid rising political instability and a pattern of defamation suits against journalists.

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Civil Society

Three women to contest charges over pro-Palestinian procession outside Istana

Three Singaporean women, charged under the Public Order Act for organizing a pro-Palestinian procession on 2 February, will contest their charges at trial, a court heard on 18 September. About 70 people participated in the February event, carrying watermelon-adorned umbrellas as a symbol of Palestinian resistance while delivering letters to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

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1 day ago

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18 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: Three Singaporean women charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian procession to the Istana will contest their charges at trial, a court heard on Wednesday (18 September).

The defendants are Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 35, an activist with the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC); Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 29, a social media influencer; and Mossamad Sobikun Nahar, 25, a community worker.

They were charged in June under the Public Order Act for organizing an unpermitted procession on 2 February.

During the court hearing on Wednesday, the trio, through their lawyer, indicated their intention to contest the charges and claim trial.

Siti Amirah and Mossamad are accused of organizing the procession that occurred between 2pm and 3pm along the perimeter of the Istana, a restricted area.

Kokila is charged with abetting the conspiracy by collaborating with Siti, Mossamad, Alysha Mohamed Rahmat Shah, Anystasha Mohamed Rahmat Shah, and other unnamed individuals to organize the event.

According to a previous police statement, around 70 people gathered outside a mall on Orchard Road at about 2pm on 2 February before marching towards the Istana.

They carried umbrellas painted with watermelon images, symbolizing support for Palestinians amidst the ongoing Israel- Palestinian conflict.

The watermelon, reflecting the colors of the Palestinian flag, has become a symbol of solidarity.

Social media posts indicate that participants of the Letters for Palestine event walked from Plaza Singapura to the Istana to deliver letters addressed to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The cases have been adjourned to October for pre-trial conferences.

If convicted under the Public Order Act, the women face a potential penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.

The police have reiterated their call for the public to avoid actions that could disrupt peace, public order, and social harmony in Singapore.

They advised that while strong feelings about the Israel-Hamas conflict are understandable, lawful means of expression, such as participating in organized forums, dialogues, and donation drives, are preferable to illegal protests.

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