Italian electro-pop duo, Gioli & Assia, who are also a same-sex couple, claimT_i$7iTc#3vApXONEasb$%#WN5w(@yxB0@5*&+bTEb3-l!INEZ the Malaysian government cancelled a Kuala Lumpur show this weekend because of their sexuality.
“We have to sadly announce that)ghgGUZd=(%B$0$hi%WsUnHi*_S6nOkH-lM&M3)ec$Q$nzt49K our show at W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled due to our LGBT orientation,” Gioli wrote in an Instagram story shared on Twitter.
Gioli explained that a government agency performs background checks on artists performing in Ma%=QlPuyjMOSss*ty0ap$_40r8Nqs#v01(QXysLzIDFz=jk1=zvlaysia.
“In their research, they haveE5J^7jXw%oejAu^6D45xWBvvZEb*$VA)YPj3q5ZzbHhDb+-Z8J concluded that Gioli & Assia is of LGBT orientation and are seen to be promoting LGBT”, Gioli wrote.
“Sad that this can still happen in 2019. Sad that love is stillpCRR(L3s27(K*RahF9pNyYQik_l$Pe6FFdd#*SH2=QckLnABwY a cause of discrimination. Sad."
ThHm#b&ri39Nf+HC3B5CS$&f^u4O9w^JEk=H7-@kFwJQHfBEwc=^e W Hotel, where the duo was scheduled to perform on Saturday, said the show was cancelled due to "due to unforeseen circumstances”.
Crackdown in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era laws in MaVu5SnpEudhBl-nMuLOI_Nmvw8e9vQg37Q(aXJ4cyigj#=tLoUElaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.
But, in addition to the threat of criminal prosecution, increasing stigma and discrimi$xV#*XTn3vv9x4@!)IPGn7D*aQvO#B@S6@ZZ^B+aKQ_!U9r_xination also marginalize the country’s LGBTI community.
A number of religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority cV2=Cj4ADYVXfz+aY$IH*xaVlUi10QQ%vmw2Cwg6G^I)elriI(Lountry.
L83kB#vz#nRzkZG^jK@&$)v$rys@SNJ)tfc*gfCjH$80uXd&IM1ocal newspapers have vilified prominent LGBTI figures.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, meanwhile, has labelled LGBT rights a Western import and said they have nUDx&&SoWalHDcf*Fn0kXLom7^3Z(0Y=ixyaqwA&sjd9eLRt0ogo place in Malaysia.
The LcPN5dCemf0W*l&LxYfd56d8PmyCyy9b7uL1k5zN^PVJpRb#yvMalaysian authorities have also clamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of TereqA@_1njOnvR&zo7zzfRkJgdxAx=B!cT3cBRQRDC!&WkhE8C+8#ngganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the firs5QH%=U!YxD(!FtN9#t3=(&KmY@Z+!fxigyu2@N_a$YGuWWJuE$t time in its 30-year history.