Homophobic comments by Malaysia's prime minister saw Councillor Brian Coleman, GLA member for Barnet and Camden, boycotting an official function.

Mr Coleman was due to attend a civic event with Malaysia's Minister of Culture on Friday but tore up his invitation after comments by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Mr Coleman said he was sickened and disgusted after Dr Mohamad said any gay British minister taking a male partner to Malaysia would be thrown out of the country.

"British people accept homosexual ministers but if they ever come here bringing their boyfriend along, we will throw them out," Dr Mohamad told Bbc Radio 4's Today programme. "In other countries, they can have ministers who are homosexual. That's okay but not here."

Dr Mohamad's remarks were seen as criticism of openly gay Foreign Office minister Ben Bradshaw, whose portfolio includes Malaysia. The comments brought a swift response from Mr Coleman, the Conservative's equality spokesman on the Greater London Assembly.

"My immediate reaction was, are we living in the 21st Century or what?" said Mr Coleman, the Conservative's equality spokesman on the Greater London Assembly. "There is no room for bigotry. The fact that any politician anywhere can still make comments like this is unnerving, but for a country so keen to promote itself as a tourist destination, it is astounding in equal measure."

Mr Coleman, who is himself gay, said his own sexuality had nothing to do with his reaction to the comments.

A spokeswoman for the Malaysian High Commission in London said: "It is not government policy, it was just the Prime Minister's personal views. I'm afraid he is very vocal about his views."

November 7, 2001 20:38

JULIAN HILLS