A representative for Malaysia’s government has described being queer as “a perverted lifestyle” following the arrest of eight LGBTQ+ advocates protesting in the country. In a statement released on Tuesday (1 August), and seen by PinkNews, Dato’ Setia Dr. Na’im addressed the “issue” of a pro-LGBTQ+ gathering outside the Sogo Kuala Lumpur shopping centre on Saturday (29 July). He referred to the eight protestors – who are all followers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light – as “a group suspected of promoting things against the teachings of Islam”. The religion follows teachings of imam Mahdi and believes in imam Ahmed al-Hassan as its divine guide.