In a statement, deputy minister in the prime minister’s department (religious affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Federal Territories) Act 1997, a provision that allows the authorities to take action against people who are said to have insulted Islam, would be amended.

Marzuk said the ministry proposed to use the law to curb the promotion of the LGBT lifestyle, particularly on social media. LGBT is an acronym used to represent lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

He said the ministry was also producing a comprehensive SOP for handling complaints about offences related to religious insults and the promotion of the LGBT lifestyle.

Marzuk said June is designated as Gay Pride Month with LGBT movements around the world, including in Malaysia, promoting their lifestyle openly either through marches or on social media.

“We found that there are certain parties who upload statuses and graphics that insult Islam on certain social media (platform) in their efforts to promote the LGBT lifestyle.

“That is why we have created a task force involving several agencies to take firm action in an urgent manner to address religious insults in general and the promotion of the LGBT lifestyle,” he said.

Among the agencies involved are the communications and multimedia ministry, home affairs ministry, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police.