310,000 gay population not verified – Jakim

KUALA LUMPUR: The estimated gay population of 310,000 in this country has not been verified by the Health Ministry, said senior assistant director of the Family, Social, and Community Department in the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Dr Mohd Izwan Md Yusof.

However, he said, Jakim is committed to helping the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, especially gays, who want to reform, by providing information and counselling.

“Jakim is committed to educating them through seminars and camps,” he said in a statement sent through Whatsapp here yesterday.

He added that JAKIM also urged the public to work together to strengthen the family institution and monitor their children as well as provide religious education.

On Monday, Jakim revealed that the number of gays in Malaysia was an estimated 310,000, compared to 173,000 five years ago. - Bernama