The minister: there Are no homosexuals in Malaysia

When the malaysian minister on Tuesday visited the ITB in Berlin, the world's largest trade fair for the tourism industry, he got the question if the country welcomes homosexuals and jews. The German newspaper writes that the minister initially avoided answering, but when he was asked whether homosexuals are welcome in the country came the answer:

" I don't think we have anything like that in our country.

has tried to downplay the uttalandets importance, because it could affect the country's ability to attract tourists. The quote came directly after that the minister talked about Malaysia's beautiful nature and welcoming culture in several minutes, writes the German newspaper.

Malaysia has an explicit goal to receive 30 million tourists in 2019.

The malaysian lgbt activist Thilaga Sulathireh says to CNN that the statement is ”bizarre and completely disconnected from reality”, but that it does not come as a surprise.

– Apart from a few politicians, they have most of the other discriminatory and exclusionary positions when it comes to lgbtq people and issues, says the activist to CNN.

between persons of the same sex was criminalized, as a heritage since the colonial period, and the law has never been abolished. There are also no laws that prevent discrimination based on gender or sexuality. The laws have been condemned by human rights organisations the world over.

In August last year sentenced two women to caning in a malaysian shariadomstol. They had been arrested after they were found having sex in a car. Uk's The Guardian writes that it was the first time in several years that such a punishment is dealt.

– A lesson and a reminder to not only you two, but to all citizens in the society, said the judge, writes the british newspaper.