Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has taken to task Deputy Chief of Police Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim on his statement that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are not eligible to join the police force.

Describing the statement as 'nonsense', she said the police should focus on how to overcome crimes in the country, instead of making an issue over LGBT.

“If you fit all the criteria to join the police enforcement, I think your sexuality does not matter at all. I think everyone has the right,” she told Astro AWANI during a walkabout with the Save Malaysia Movement today at Pasar Malam Jalan Telawi, Bangsar.

“I don’t think anyone who have openly declared themselves as a gay, would even think of joining police because everyone knows police style is hostile.

Also present were former Bersih 2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and PKR vice president, Tian Chua.

Ambiga stressed that sexuality is an individual matter.

“This is against international human right norms. In certain country, this is against human right, this is discrimination,” said Ambiga.

Meanwhile, Tian Chua said the police should refrain from issuing statements that can be construed as discrimination.

“The police need to ensure that people feel safe from threats as well as providing a safe environment for the country. Whatever police said, have very serious implication.

"I think the Deputy Chief of Police should adhere to its responsibilities, by safeguarding the national security," he said.

Yesterday, Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the LGBT communities are not eligible to join the police force, since their practice of life is different from the Malaysian culture as an Islamic country.