KANGAR: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community have been asked to 'check their private parts' first before entering public toilets.
Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said this with regard to the widespread debate on transgenders and public toilets.
Some people weighed in saying they should follow their original gender in deciding whether to use the male or female lavatories.
Meanwhile, some argue that they should be allowed to use toilets according to the gender they identify with.
As for Dr Asri, he said the confusion appears to be getting worse with many asking him which toilet should transgenders use.
"I would like to suggest that if any individuals feel conflicted by this confusion, I suggest they visit an expert (doctor) to examine their private parts..," he said in statement posted on Facebook today.
He said if a person were to urinate via a man's private part, then the person should enter a male toilet, and the same goes if they have female private parts.
"If nothing comes out, or it (urine) does not come out via a male or female private part, then please go to the hospital, if the doctors say you're a disabled person, then you can enter the OKU toilet.
"If you have no means to see an expert, I think you can examine yourselves," he said.
Previously, NSTP reported Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Mahfuz Omar as saying that the demands by the LGBT community will not be entertained in a rushed manner, stating that demands will only be met based on what is contained in the Federal Constitution as a citizen of the country without putting aside one's original identity.
He said, for now, his ministry does not have any record of discrimination against the LGBT community at the workplace, however admitted that perhaps many were afraid to report for fear of losing their jobs.
Mahfuz said this when asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa who asked the public not to discriminate against transgenders.
Transgenders cannot be independent if they are not treated as equal citizens, which is among the reasons why some of them end up as sex workers, Mujahid had said.