Malaysian Minister claims work stress can ‘turn people gay’Listen to this articleDr Zulkifli Hasan. (official Facebook page)Malaysia’s Minister for Religious Affairs has been criticised after saying work stress can cause people to adopt an LGBTQ+ identity, with human rights advocates at home and abroad condemning the remarks as 'dehumanising'. He was quoted as saying that when individuals become exhausted from overwork, stress can dominate both the mind and mental state, potentially leading to changes in sexual orientation. LGBTQ+ communities, civil rights activists and human rights organisations criticised the statements as unscientific, overly generalised and dehumanising. They argued that they reduce sexual orientation and gender identity to a supposed by-product of fatigue or a lack of religious devotion.

Source: Bangkok Post January 30, 2026 11:51 UTC