Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said PAS seemed to prefer “spewing venom” against the LGBT instead of working to resolve the various issues in the east coast states it governs.

In a statement, the DAP man cited reports that there were 224 cases of sexual crimes in Kelantan in 2021, of which many victims were in their teens, aged between 13 and 16.

Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat recently voiced concern over the number of sexual abuse cases involving children in Kelantan, with 59 cases involving children registered at the Kota Bharu sessions court last year, compared to 18 which involved adults.

Santiago also said it had been reported that every one of the Orang Asli households in Terengganu lived below the poverty line of RM2,208.

“Kelantan is in second place, with 83.3% of its indigenous community living in poverty.

“It’s time for PAS to look at development issues in the states it governs, on top of the rise in sexual crimes. Training its guns on the LGBT is a cheap tactic and won’t help create progress,” he said.

Yesterday, Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary claimed that the LGBT’s lifestyle was “so perverted that it surpasses animal limits”, according to Malaysiakini.

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had also called for stern action to be taken over apparent LGBT elements at a women’s rally in front of Sogo and Dataran Merdeka on Sunday.

The PAS Youth chief questioned if Putrajaya would introduce harsh laws to stem the apparent rise of pro-LGBT groups, claiming that these groups had “hijacked” the women’s rally.

Religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar has ordered the federal territories Islamic religious department (Jawi) to cooperate with the police in their probe into the rally, saying it was unacceptable to “promote or normalise a wayward lifestyle that contradicts Islamic values”.

Police have recorded statements from six participants at the rally, themed Women’s March Malaysia.