PETALING JAYA, Oct 8 — Minister in charge of religious affairs Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa has again chided the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, claiming any advocacy for their rights as "extreme ideas” and must be curbed.

During a roundtable discussion with religious scholars and academics at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies here, Mujahid said that the LGBT community must not be allowed "to dictate” things in Malaysia.

"In fact, the prime minister has advised Suhakam to not entertain rights which go against the norm and the family institution, and that has always been our position all these while too,” he said, referring to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

"You can’t let these people dictate Malaysia, ladies and gentlemen. You cannot let them dictate you.

"The country would be in disaster if these extreme ideas dictate you, while you have the authority to say the right thing, and be brave to say. Then I believe this country can move forward,” said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

He then reminded the audience of the time he ordered the removal of the portraits of two LGBT activists from an art exhibition in Penang.

"If you remember, I ordered the photos of the two icons, said to be from the LGBT group, carrying their symbols, to be taken down immediately.

"This is the stand that we take, but we never shut the door, to call upon them back to the path of truth. What is the mistake here?” he added.

Mujahid said that the government’s adoption of the rahmatan lil alamin concept should also not be construed as one that supports extreme ideologies and practices.

The Arabic phrase means "a blessing to the world”.

"There are some who misunderstood the government’s new policy, saying for example that with the rahmatan lil alamin, we apparently are not holding to the principles of Islam.

"What is the most basic policy in the implementation of rahmatan lil alamin is that something must run according to the norms, because Islam is about norms,” he added.

Mujahid was embroiled in a controversy in August, after portraits of prominent transgender activist Nisha Ayub and gay rights advocate Phang Kee Teik were removed from a public photography exhibition in Penang.

The minister later admitted that the removal was carried out on his orders, saying the promotion of LGBT activities was not in line with Pakatan Harapan’s policy.

However, the matter was later resolved between Mujahid and Nisha in a meeting at the latter’s request.

Mujahid said then that there was a need for the authorities, especially religious institutions, to be more understanding of issues affecting the trans community.

* A previous version of this story contained an error which has since been corrected.