KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian government minister faces heavy global criticism after claiming that job pressure causes people to become gay.
Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Malaysia’s Minister for Religious Affairs, listed overwork among four main factors driving what he called an “LGBTQ+ lifestyle” during a televised broadcast. He later submitted his arguments to Malaysia’s Parliament in a written reply.
Human rights advocates quickly condemned the minister’s claims, calling his statements “dehumanising” and scientifically false.
Minister Zulkifli argued that mental exhaustion from workplace demands changes how individuals think. He stated that severe fatigue could alter a person’s sexual orientation.
According to his statement, four key elements lead individuals toward queer identity: excessive job stress, social pressure, past sexual experiences, and weak religious practice. He added that firm adherence to religious teachings would prevent these outcomes.
Activists and medical experts rejected the arguments. They noted that sexual orientation is natural and does not stem from tiredness or low religious devotion.
The minister’s remarks triggered immediate outrage across social media platforms. Critics accused the government of spreading misinformation to justify state-sanctioned discrimination.
Malaysian internet users responded with satire and humor. One viral joke on TikTok and X declared, “Tomorrow the whole country should take a day off—otherwise everyone will turn gay,” transforming the minister’s logic into a widespread meme.
The controversy also reached neighboring countries. Social media users in Thailand mocked the statement, writing that heavy workloads do not alter orientation, but instead push tired workers to watch popular BL (boys’ love) and GL (girls’ love) television dramas to relax.
The incident highlights growing pressure on minority groups in Malaysia. Religion remains a central politically sensitive topic across the nation, where Malay Muslims make up roughly 60% of the population.
Consensual same-sex acts remain illegal under federal law. Human rights groups report that official campaigns against queer communities have increased across the country in recent years.
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