The Malaysian Government Thinks that Homosexuality Causes Swine Flu
Published August 09, 2009 @ 06:05AM PT
Every so often there's a story on the global health circuit that is so absurd, it causes our proverbial record to scratch. Like the time that South Africa's former Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, said that ingesting lemon juice and potatoes could help treat HIV. Or when evangelical groups like Word Relief, who received millions of U.S. federal dollars in PEPFAR funding under President George W. Bush, told people in countries like Mozambique, Kenya and Haiti that condoms don't work to prevent STDs.
Well, now it's time to count Malaysia's government-run news service as part of the global health lie factory. Today they're out with an article from a physician that says homosexuality and masturbation make the body an easy target for Swine Flu (otherwise known as H1N1). The scary part is that the news service in question, Bernama, runs their stories in nearly every part of the country. Lies and misinformation, get ready to spread.
The doctor at the center of the article, V. M. Palaniappan, used to teach ecology at the University of Malaysia. Maybe he should have stuck with ecology instead of wading into the waters of global health. Here's his rationalization behind his theory, which almost reads like a non-sequitor from Alaska's former governor. Check it out:
Dr. V. M. Palaniappan said that homosexuality and masturbation caused the body to develop friction heat which in turn, produced acid and made the body hyperacidised.
"Thus, the body becomes an easy target for H1N1 infection," he told Bernama, emphasising however, that normal sexual union between members of the opposite sex was absolutely safe....
Ah, yes. It's only the homosexual sex that causes friction heat. Must be all that dance music we listen to while getting it on...
Two words come to mind. Medical crackpot. Yet the government of Malaysia gives this guy a voice with which to reach people across the country, and offer medical advice. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that Malaysia criminalizes homosexuality with penalties ranging from twenty years in prison to whippings and beatings. Or that Malaysia's ruling political party is so vehemently anti-LGBT, that they even have a sub-section of the party known as the "People's Anti-Homosexual Voluntary Movement."
Anyone else thinking that we could start a reality show under the title of, "When Countries Attack Global Health"?
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Comments (19)
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.
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Malaysia must repeal its intolerant law criminalizing homosexuality because that kind oppression is unjustified. Disclipinary action must be given against the doctor because he's on the government's salary. On the statement he gave on the swine flu, it's nonsense and all people in Malaysia must know it's false. Although Malaysia' current ruling party is anti-LGBT, another political party allied with LGBT rights must be very competitive to advance LGBT rights in that country.
Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/09/2009 @ 03:01PM PT
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It's very unlikely for Malaysian Government to repeal it's law against Homosexuality. Not in 100 yrs even. The country is a Moslem country and it abides strictly to Shariah Law.
Posted by Zaid N on 08/11/2009 @ 12:27PM PT
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It's very unlikely for Malaysian Government to repeal its law against Homosexuality not even in 100 yrs I reckon. The country is a Moslem country that abides strictly to Shariah Law.
Posted by Zaid N on 08/11/2009 @ 12:34PM PT
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This boggles the imagination! Where in the world do these people come up with these ridiculous theories? Do they not have any common sense at all? These are probably the same people who encourage men with HIV to rape virgins in Africa, so the men would be " cured!" How stupid are they?
Posted by gilbert barrett on 08/09/2009 @ 03:36PM PT
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Whats really scary mr. barret is that these "people" aint stupid...They know good and well that with their "authority", they can lie like the cowardly dogs they are and all too often, those who refuse to think for themselves will buy those lies...Now thats fucking scary...Because its happening...Right now.
Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/10/2009 @ 03:16AM PT
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There is a level of religiously inspired ignorance one hits and that is when I start calling them "stupid."
This event in Malaysia is just another fine example that you can be so deaf to the facts that you become an idiot. What is worse is that this causes people to think that if they eliminate gays that they can cure swine flu, or that only gays can get it. Such misinformed fools...
Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/12/2009 @ 09:57AM PT
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haha! It doesn't surprise me a bit. I'm half Malay, and believe me, homosexuality is one of the most sinful things considered to the Malay Sunnis. That's not to say how theocratically correct the government is. Malaysia was also quick to blame the AIDs epidemic on homosexuality.
Even if Malaysia does repeal its interolant laws based on homosexuality, it will not change the close mindedness of so many of the orthodox Sunnis there. I feel terrible for saying everything I am, because I'm using my relatives as a typical picture of Malaysians. It's true though. There's nothing more they despise than an infidel. You can get all the LGBT right groups in Malaysia, but I doubt even that will change their mindset. The problem is, from day one a kid a kid is taught things in black and white-- this is wrong, that is right, and homosexuality is a sin and that's something you can't change for someone who's learned that since he was 6 years old. That's how the schools go over there. If you want to change things perhaps starting young like the theocrats are, will be the best way for any change in the future. That goes for any country! The biggest hope for the LGBT cause is the new generation of children.
Posted by Dina Yazdani on 08/09/2009 @ 04:13PM PT
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How and when did all these countries become so anti-gay? I know in England, for example, it had to do with it being publicized with the Oscar Wilde case and what not... similar thing in India, I believe. But what of the others?
Posted by Luella - on 08/09/2009 @ 05:49PM PT
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Possibly when the fundemental abrahamic faiths moved in...
That would be my guess.
Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/10/2009 @ 03:20AM PT
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No. People have been against homosexuality for as long as there were people, the problem is, unlike the West countries like Malaysia have failed to modernize. Malaysia, was colonized by the British. So perhaps that answers your question, Luella.
I'm a Muslim, Thomas, so I take somewhat offense of that. There's plenty more of me out there, and the LGBT groups filled with secular Muslims can attest to that.
Posted by Dina Yazdani on 08/11/2009 @ 09:08AM PT
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And this is why I vehemently hate all religions equally. Its far harder to get excited at someone who is repulsed, and open about it, that gives equal dissension to all faith rather than just inducing stereotypes.
FYI Thomas I know more people of islamic faith in my area that support full LGBT equality than those of christian faith. But it still donesnt change my opinion that religion is the scourge of humanity.
Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/12/2009 @ 10:05AM PT
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You want a reality tv show idea ?
Hows about "When crackpots speak...Thats when you know their pot is cracked" ?
That idiot palaniapan just won the dumb ass award of the century...Sorry miss prejean but your title has just been taken.
Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/10/2009 @ 03:13AM PT
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I keep thinking that I have heard every absurdity know to man. Then I read a post like this and realize that I am clearly mistaken. The pit is bottomless when it comes to idiocy camouflaged as scientific theory.
The scary part is that people are willing to believe this garbage. It takes all kinds to make a world.
Posted by S B on 08/10/2009 @ 09:06AM PT
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WOW....amazing how the gay community really causes everything, it's like we are taking over the world.
Well GROW UP, SAY IT WITH ME NOW GROW THE FUCK UP, AGAIN GROW THE FUCK UP.
We are a very peaceful community that just want to be treated like people istead of aliens
Posted by Elektra sky on 08/10/2009 @ 09:22AM PT
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This is an extremely sensationalist, misleading headline, followed by equally sensationalist commentary. The doctor in question is "an eminent practitioner of complimentary therapy" who stated these opinions in his blog. In no way does the article indicate that the Malaysian government has officiated the guy's theories or created any health policy based on them. In fact, the headline of the article is "Unconventional Methods To Prevent Influenza." A lot of outrage over nothing...
Posted by Zombie_Dick _Cheney on 08/10/2009 @ 10:40AM PT
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If you think that the doctor (V. M. Palaniappan) is silly, well I think you are sillier than him. How come you can jeopardized the whole nation and the goverment when it was just a single person's point of view?
When government is putting restriction on the media and journalism, the gov blamed for killing the freedom of the journalism, and when freedom is given, gov is blamed for spreading such story and lying.
In fact this Dr.story has only taken a small space of some local tabloid that I've noticed, and i wonder how much was the gov involvement in ths matter? haha
I think you just have to be a little wise, than you'll be a happy person. By the way, I am gay too and fighting for the gay rights. But this whole thing you wrote is really silly anyway hehee
Goodday! ;)
Posted by Bloo84 tooth on 08/11/2009 @ 09:13AM PT
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I dont find this silly. I find this repulsing. This is a doctor who is educated, who should know that homosexuality and masturbation do not lead to a decrease in the immune system. Instead this is a fine example of how faith continues to persist in poisoning the science community with their A1 bullshit. I am not repulsed at the country just this moron doctor who cant separate fact from fiction.
This reminds of me American pharmacist who refused to fill prescriptions for HIV victims which lead to their decline in health, some died as a result. When will this virus of faith finally be cured?
Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/12/2009 @ 10:15AM PT
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The problem is, is that this article does portray the greater population of Malaysians who believe homosexuality is a sin. For places like Malaysia, morality is a bigger law than the law itself. Homosexuality is not illegal, but it's criminalized as worst than murder.
Bloo tooth, it's taken little space in OUR tabloids, but in Malaysia it was published in the state newspaper, AKA, the newspaper that most people read there. It's not like people are going to read it and say, "Oh wow! I really hate gay people now!" The scarier part is them showing their kids, and saying, "this is why homosexuality is a sin. They harm people." As i said earlier, these people will always be close-minded, I would never even bother to try to convince my aunts that homosexuality is not a sin. I would focus on my cousins, the more open-minded.
Posted by Dina Yazdani on 08/13/2009 @ 08:33AM PT
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i am just thinking of is it only homosexual did masturbation? i really don think so...what is in that doctor mind? i really disapointed with this statement..its sound so uneducated and stupid..
Posted by Eagle Lee on 08/18/2009 @ 09:39AM PT
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