Johor to set up rehabilitation centre for those who deviate from teachings of Islam, LGBT

ISKANDAR PUTERI - The Johor government will set up a rehabilitation centre to overcome the issue of those who have been deemed as contradicting the teachings of the Islamic faith and those practicing same-sex relationships or LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said RM400,000 has been allocated for the rehabilitation centre, which was expected to commence operations in July, next year.

"This rehabilitation centre is not only established for those who are deemed deviant but also for individuals who engage in same-sex relationships or LGBT practices (criminalised by the Syariah Court under Enactment 26-Musahaqah), for them to get back on the right path.

"The existence of a rehabilitation centre for those who engaged in same-sex relationships is the first of its kind in Malaysia.

"At the moment, it is in the process of preparing for the entry of capital assets in the office section, male and female trainee dormitories," he said.

He said this during the Johor State Assembly session in Kota Iskandar, today.

Fared (BN-Semerah) earlier responded to a question from Abdul Aziz Talib (PN-Maharani) regarding the number of new Muslim converts since 2020 and the programmes for them and the Muslim community in the state.

He said RM15 million was allocated annually by the Johor State Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Saudara Kita for the implementation of dakwah and welfare activities.

"A total of 2,845 individuals have registered to embrace Islam from 2020 until November of this year.

The breakdown involved 728 people in 2020, 688 people in 2021, 796 people in 2022 and 633 people until November this year.

"Muslim converts who registered in Johor come from various ethnic backgrounds, including Chinese, Indian, Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan, Orang Asli, as well as foreign nationals from the Philippines and Vietnam," he said.