Malaysia’s prime minister has said his country will not be forced to accept “western values” such as same-sex marriage.

His blunt comments were made at a forum during a state visit to Thailand on Thursday, against a backdrop of what activists say is a growing intolerance towards Malaysia’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

"At this moment, we do not accept LGBT but if they (the West) want to accept, that is their business. Don’t force it on us," Mr Mahathir, 93, told a packed audience at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, according to AFP.

"The institution of marriage, the institution of the family has now been disregarded in the West. Why should we follow that? Our value system is as good," he added. 

"If they (the West) one day decided to walk around naked, do we have to follow?"

Malaysia operates on a dual track legal system that gives Islamic courts the right to handle religious and family matters for Muslim citizens, who make up more than 60 per cent of the population.

Islamic laws are also overseen by individual states in Malaysia.

Mr Mahathir rose to power in May on the back of public anger over allegations of a government financial scam, ousting his former protégé, Najib Razak, in a shock election defeat. 

But despite his anti-corruption drive and pledge to clean up Malaysian politics, activists have been alarmed at the potential erosion of civil rights under his administration. 

In August, Human Rights Watch accused the new government of putting out a “series of mixed messages” on LGBT rights. 

The group said that while Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Islamic affairs minister, had condemned bullying and discrimination against LGBT people, he had also asserted before parliament that the government was concerned about the “worrying” “spread of the LGBT lifestyle.”

Activists flagged up press reports in July in which the minister said “camps” and “seminars” would be organised for LGBT people, reportedly adding that “parents need to be aware that this can be stopped from the beginning. We are ready to guide and help because we have the expertise.”

In September the prime minister said same-sex unions were not suitable for Malaysia. He reinforced that message in his speech in Bangkok, criticising the practice of same-sex couples adopting children. 

However, despite his stance, Mr Mahathir recently denounced the caning of two women accused of having lesbian sex in Malaysia. The unprecedented case had spread fear among the country’s LGBT community.