KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Taylor’s University explained today that it cancelled a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) awareness campaign at its campus next month because the organisers did not obtain its approval.

The private university also said it must consider all sensitivities when deciding whether to allow any event to be conducted on its premises.

It insisted the decision was not made due to protests brewing on some Islamist blogs that were unhappy that the event would coincide with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

“It was a decision made by the management without pressure from any party or community,” the institution’s senior manager of corporate communications, Azura Abdullah, told Malay Mail Online.

“It was organised without prior approval from the management. We take into account the interest of all parties before approving any student campaign or event,” she added.

She also said the decision was reached after consultation with students over the three-day event called “Courage in the Face of Adversity”.

Maureen Lim, the campaign director for the event, told Malay Mail Online that the event was cancelled due to the School of Communication’s disapproval.

“The event was planned without the consent of the management and upon hearing about the event, we were advised to cancel it with immediate effect,” Lim said.

Taylor’s University and its School of Communications were both listed as co-organisers of the event.

Supporters of the event included the Campaign for Equality and Human Rights Initiative or Pelangi, Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor or EMPOWER, PT Foundation, SEED Foundation, Knowledge and Rights with Young people through Safer Spaces or KRYSS, and Gerakbudaya.

The event planned for June 6 to 8, more than a week after Ramadan begins, would include a movie screening, forum, exhibition, open mic session, and a pride march at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus.

The local LGBT community remains in the shadows, particularly Muslims, fearing persecution from religious authorities in the predominantly Muslim country that has religious laws prohibiting same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.