“Work pressure makes people gay” Malaysian minister’s unique logic sparks controversy.

Kuala Lumpur é Malaysia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Dr. Zulkifali Hassan has claimed that work pressure, social influences and lack of religious practice are factors that lead people to homosexuality, a statement that has sparked a fierce controversy in the country. According to a foreign news agency report, Dr. Zulkifali Hassan made this statement in a written parliamentary response, which he presented in response to a question from Member of Parliament Siti Zaila Muhammad Yusuf, who belongs to the opposition Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami (Paz). The Malaysian minister, in his response, said that social influences, work pressure and other personal factors are among the reasons he considers to be the basis of homosexuality. The statement came in the context of a question in Parliament regarding the growing trend of homosexuality, which sought information on age, ethnicity and possible causes. Dr. Zulkifli Hassan said that a total of 135 cases related to immoral activities were recorded in the form of arrests or court proceedings between 2022 and 2025. Minister Zulkifli Hassan’s statement was followed by a strong reaction on social media, where many Malaysian citizens ridiculed the claim.