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Islamic association calls HPB’s FAQ insensitive to prevailing view on homosexuality

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) says it is disappointed with the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) FAQ section on sexuality, calling it insensitive to the prevailing view on homosexuality in Singapore and saying it hopes to be consulted in future on such sensitive matters.

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) says it is disappointed with the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) FAQ section on sexuality, calling it insensitive to the prevailing view on homosexuality in Singapore and saying it hopes to be consulted in future on such sensitive matters.

“This is to ensure that the interests of all groups are represented in the consideration of government agencies such as HPB,” said PERGAS in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Yesterday, Faith Community Baptist Church pastor Lawrence Khong, who had previously voiced his objection to the FAQ, said in a Facebook post that he has written to Health Minister Gan Kim Yong to seek a public inquiry into who was responsible for the publication of the FAQ. He also encouraged FCBC parishioners to support an online petition calling for a review of the FAQs, saying the aim was to collect at least 25,000 signatures.

The FAQ, published in November last year, has drawn controversy, with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups applauding the approach taken while others have spoken against it, saying it undermined the importance of the traditional family unit.

Mountbatten Member of Parliament Lim Biow Chuan has filed a question for Monday’s Parliament sitting, asking the Health Minister to explain why the HPB “promotes a same-sex relationship as not being different from a heterosexual relationship”.

Responding to media queries yesterday, the HPB said it appreciated the feedback it has received so far. It will take into consideration relevant inputs to see how it could further improve in its communications, the board said.

It reiterated that the family remains the basic building block of society, which means “encouraging heterosexual married couples to have healthy relationships and to build stable nuclear and extended family units”.

“The Government has been consistent in this line, and HPB takes reference from it in our health promotion activities,” it added.

Correction: The story originally stated that Pastor Lawrence Khong "had started an online petition to garner 25,000 signatures". This is incorrect. He had encouraged FCBC parishioners to support an online petition calling for a review of the FAQs, saying the aim was to collect at least 25,000 signatures. We apologise for the error. The correction was made on Feb 15 at 11.23pm.

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