KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak has voiced his frustration over American President Barack Obama's position on gay marriage, saying Malaysia will not bend under international pressure. Razak said late last week that he was “disappointed” in the White House's position on accepting gay marriage as a right for American citizens. Razak reportedly conveyed his position to Obama, through a secretary, during his recent visit to the US. “In regard to Obama's statement supporting marriage of the LGBT(lesbian, gays, bisexual and transgender) group, it is a personal opinion and only applies to the US," the Foreign Ministry's statement said on Friday. The ministry said that in principle, “Malaysia does not intrude upon another country's domestic issues as the values of foreigners differ” from those of Malaysia. “Therefore, there is no need for us to object to the stand of the US president that was made based in the context of his country's open social issues. “However, the honourable prime minister had informed his disappointment towards president Obama's statement supporting the right of marriage of LGBT group through the US deputy secretary of state during their meeting in Washington DC recently," the statement continued. “The prime minister had also stressed to the US that principles of religious laws should be respected and followed in regard to social issues which are regarded sensitive by followers of the faith who are the majority in the US as well as in Malaysia." The ministry said the government's stand on the LGBT is very clear, where Malaysia “will not compromise or work together with any parties in or outside of the country to recognise the LGBT community and its rights". It said that the stand of the government is clear when it disallowed a recent gathering by the LGBT group which was “insensitive to the religion and culture of the local society.” LGBT activists and community members continue to be frustrated by the moves of the Malaysian government to curtail their rights. Activists told Bikyamasr.com last week after the government claimed the constitution does not protect gay people in the country that “the government and the people are far apart on this issue.”
