Understand Malaysian culture,

Aussie MPs urged

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 04:56 |

pix from pilotguides.com

KOTA BARU: International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has stressed to the international community that sodomy is not allowed under Islam and the eastern culture in Malaysia.

Mustapa, who is also Kelantan Umno liaison chief, said foreigners should first understand the country’s beliefs, culture and laws which deemed sodomy to be an offence.

“They don’t understand our culture, beliefs and laws. They should respect our country’s sovereignty,” he said in a speech during a special meeting with Barisan Nasional leaders here yesterday.

He was commenting on the act of over 50 Australian politicians who lodged a formal protest urging Malaysia to drop Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial saying it would hurt the country’s image.

The politicians called for the case against Anwar to be abandoned in the interest of building confidence in the impartial rule of law in Malaysia.

A foreign news agency quoted Australia’s foreign affairs parliamentary subcommittee chairman, Michael Danby, as saying that Anwar’s second sodomy trial was a shame to Malaysia’s democratic system and felt that they needed to support the Opposition leader.

The protest letter received mixed reactions from various quarters in Malaysia, with some local leaders saying the Australian MPs were extreme and unaware of Malaysia’s system of parliamentary democracy.

Mustapa said the international community should not define sodomy through their own eyes.

“In the United States, there are laws that allow gay marriages. A man can marry another man and a woman can marry another woman.

“Such practices are frowned upon by Muslims in this country and others worldwide as it is against nature,” he said.

“Therefore, the world needs to evaluate Anwar’s case through Malaysia’s lens and not their own liberal views,” he added. — Bernama