KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today police have started a probe on the activists behind a rally defending the rights of the LGBT community.
Muhyiddin said the organisers of Sunday’s International Women’s Day march did not have a permit for the protest.
“It is not a matter (of the government) being hard on them. Whoever wants to have a rally, they must follow laws, like the Peaceful Assembly Act,” he told reporters at Parliament here.
The PPBM president said police have started investigations against the organisers because every citizen is tied to the rule of law.
“We practise democracy but laws need to be followed,” he said.
During the rally, several groups, including the Women’s Aid Organisation, Sisters in Islam and LGBT groups, reportedly joined the rally.
Among others, the rally demanded an end to violence based on gender and sexual orientation, a ban on child marriages, giving women more rights to make choices over their own bodies and lives, and ensuring a dignified minimum wage of RM1,800 for all.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa earlier said the government is firm in opposing LGBT groups.