This GE15, Justice for Sisters monitored LGBTphobia throughout the elections.

The LGBTphobia manifested, among others, as follows 

• Linking Pakatan Harapan (PH) and MUDA with LGBT people, issues, and rights. Some key narratives were
  • Normalization of ‘LGBT’ under the PH administration, 
  • Anwar supports LGBT people and issues as he has called for the repeal of Section 377, 
  • PH will legalize ‘same-sex marriage’, 
  • A vote for PH is a vote for liberalism, communism, LGBT, etc. 
  • LGBT conspiracy within MUDA
    
    
• Triggering panic over LGBT activism and advocacy by human rights defenders (HRD). This includes engagement with government agencies in relation to discrimination faced by trans people, LGBT people exercising their fundamental rights to assembly, association and expression guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and international human rights law
   
• Content on the dangers of ‘LGBT’. These are largely anti-LGBT content and posts, revolving around how religion does not accept LGBT people, and LGBT people are driven by lust, among others.   
  
  

1. Anti-LGBT elements in campaign materials. e.g. campaign videos, infographics 

Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional campaign materials explicitly included anti-LGBT positions. 

At least 3 anti-LGBT  infographics or communication materials were released by Barisan Nasional 

• 2 visuals on PH’s liberal administration recognizes or supports LGBT issues and people. 
• use of semburit in infographic in reference to Azmin Ali 

Perikatan Nasional’s campaign video presented at its candidate announcement event included LGBT-related chants from the 2018 women’s march, which was mischaracterized as an LGBT march by conservatives due to visibility of rainbow flags and LGBTIQ inclusion in the march. 

In addition, Harakah Daily, PAS’ media channel, consistently published articles and visuals targeting PH for supporting LGBT people and issues from early/mid-October 2022. This includes the ‘normalisasi LGBT era kerajaan PH’ campaign. On 28 October 2022, Mujahid and Amanah took legal action against PAS’ accusations. 

2. Discriminatory remarks against LGBTQ+ people in their speeches 

Barisan Nasional,  Perikatan Nasional, Pejuang and Pakatan Harapan made discriminatory remarks. It is important to note that the severity of the speeches vary 

• Perikatan Nasional is the biggest offender. The anti-LGBT speech came from PAS through various speeches shared on social media. As stated above, PH was accused of being communists and LGBT sympathisers or supporters. Most notably, on 6 November, Mohd Razman from PAS alleges that Anwar Ibrahim has an LGBT agenda, which includes the legalization of ‘same-sex marriage’. Razman is under police investigation for making those allegations following police reports lodged by PH component parties. PH has also taken legal action against him. 
  
  
• Pejuang’s Temerloh candidate reportedly made discriminatory LGBT statements in the media. He raised ‘concerns’ over LGBT issues in Malaysia. 
  
  
• The caretaker Prime Minister joked about how he is lemah lembut (soft-spoken), but not lembut (effeminate) at a Barisan Nasional event in Bagan Datuk, Perak on 16 October,  
  
  
• Two incidents showed Pakatan Harapan’s candidates making discriminatory speeches. In a campaign speech on 20 October, Amirudin Shari, the Chief Minister of Selangor, said that he feels ‘geli’ (disgusted) in reference to Azmin Ali. The statement saw LGBTphobic responses on social media. On 16 November, Sany Hazman, in his attempt to correct LGBT accusations against PH, made dehumanizing comments about LGBT people. 
  

3. LGBTphobia against political parties during GE15 campaign period by other political parties & linked groups & individuals 

Pakatan Harapan (PH) and MUDA were subjected to LGBTphobia before and during the GE15 campaign period by Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional and Pejuang online and offline.

PH lodged police reports and took legal action against linkages with LGBT people made by Perikatan Nasional. In addition, in a now-deleted tik tok post, PN supporters were seen shouting ‘hapus LGBT’ at PH supporters on nomination day.

Pejuang in several Twitter posts, called for Anwar Ibrahim to denounce LGBT people. Following the publication of an article by an anonymous former Pejuang cyber trooper alleging Mahathir’s team of attempting to commission a fake sex video between an Anwar lookalike and another man to end his political career, Pejuang claims that the article is an attempt to defame Mahathir in a 17 November tweet. 

Similarly, fake LGBT accounts that purportedly support PH (e.g. kelab pelangi) and deceptive content that shows LGBT people throwing their support behind PH emerged on social media platforms.

Aside from social media posts claiming that there is an LGBT conspiracy within MUDA and vilifying Syed Saddiq for being an LGBT ally, MUDA also experienced at least 3 banner drops from 2 – 16 November, according to social media posts. 

4. Do manifestos by political coalitions address the marginalization faced by LGBTIQ+ people? 

Only the Socialist Party’s manifesto offers protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender.