LGBTQIA+ People Labelled as “Deviant” by the Malaysian Government

27-02-2026 | Dominik Miklósi | Asia Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.

The February 26th, 2026, statement of Marhamah Rosli declaring the decision of Malaysia’s government to describe LGBTQIA+ as “deviant culture” has sparked heavy condemnation in the human rights sphere. This move of the State forms a part of the rising discrimination against the already vulnerable community, further exacerbating the stigma against it.

Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2026, covered the status of LGBTQIA+ people in Malaysia. It highlighted the State-sponsored discrimination that the community faces, as the government provides financial support for what authorities describe as “conversion” practices. Moreover, the country’s domestic legal framework explicitly criminalises same-sex relations and gender nonconformity. Throughout 2025, many members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Malaysia fell victim to public condemnation, police investigations, and arrests, among others.

However, the discriminative approach of the State does not seem to abate in 2026 either. On February 26th, 2026, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Marhamah Rosli, announced that the term “LGBT”, which was previously used, will be replaced by the phrase “deviant culture” in the future under public discourse, including social media spaces. In terms of the rationale behind the government’s decision, Ms. Rosli stated the following: “The more we utter, write, and mention the term ‘LGBT’, the more related content will pop up. Unknowingly, we may appear to be promoting the deviant culture”.

The State’s action has been heavily criticised by Amnesty International Malaysia in a February 27th, 2026, publication. “We strongly condemn this appalling decision by the government. When public officials label LGBTI people as ‘deviant’, they are not upholding morality—they are legitimizing hate and discrimination against a highly vulnerable group […]”, said Qistina Johari, Amnesty International Malaysia’s Campaigner. Furthermore, the human rights watchdog called for a change concerning the decision and the cessation of attacks targeted at the LGBTQIA+ community.

Individuals of all marginalised groups must enjoy to the fullest their fundamental human right to dignity, which shall always be upheld and protected by states. Therefore, the discriminative initiative against LGBTQIA+ people propelled by the Government of Malaysia must end with immediate effect.