Persecution of Homosexuals (Malaysia)
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Malaysia's state-run television network bans gays and transvestites from appearing on its programs. "Any artiste who is proven to be a gay will come under the ban. We do not want to encourage any form of homosexuality"
"Any artiste who is proven to be a gay will come under the ban. We do not want to encourage any form of homosexuality in our society," Mohamed was quoted as telling reporters after launching the Malaysian Rice Festival.
Mohamed's ministry controls Radio and Television Malaysia, which operates two of Malaysia's three TV channels. The other channel is run by Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd, a publicly listed company."Reuter, August 17, 1994
Police raid a drag beauty pageant and arrest all the contestants. 45 charged with wearing female clothes and posing as women in a public place. 34 contestants released on bail, while the other 11 remain behind bars
Five non-Muslims were released, but the rest were charged with wearing female clothes and posing as women in a public place, charges carrying maximum penalties of 160-pounds fine and six months' incarceration. After this week's hearing, 34 contestants were released on bail, while the other 11 remain behind bars. Despite Islam's severe restrictions against homosexual behavior, a 1996 study of more than 1,000 young men aged 15 - 21 years found that one-fifth had engaged in sex with another male.
NewsPlanet, May 21, 1998
Malaysian group known as the "People's Anti-Homosexual Voluntary Movement" gives itself an official launch
But top officials of the People's Anti-Homosexual Voluntary Movement, who are also members of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), denied the movement is targeting any particular personality.
"Our aim is sincere. This is not politically motivated," said the movement's chairman, Ibrahim Ali, an UMNO Supreme Council member and staunch supporter of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Deputy Chairman Tamrin Ghafar said, "This has nothing to do with recent developments. It is just that homosexual activities have been around for a long time but never been so widespread and open."
Anwar has pleaded not guilty to the five sodomy charges and five corruption charges he is facing, saying they are part of a conspiracy to topple him.
Sodomy is a criminal offense in Malaysia punishable with a jail term of up to 20 years, as well as by lashing.
. . .
Last month Mahathir's open remarks against the alleged sodomy acts of Anwar and against gays in general provoked the ire of a Philippine gay rights group, which accused Mahathir of "fanning antigay hatred."
Vivian Ho, Kyodo News Service, October 21, 1998
In one year, 111 men are arrested in Kuala Lumpur for "attempting to commit homosexual acts." Malaysia’s Islamic Affairs Department: "Homosexuals are shameless people" and "Homosexuality is a crime worse than murder"
TIME: How does Islam perceive homosexuality?
Abdul Kadir: Homosexuality is forbidden in Islam. It is a crime worse than murder.
TIME: What do you think of homosexuals?
Abdul Kadir: They are shameless people.
TIME: Can it be wrong for two people to be in love?
Abdul Kadir: Love? How can men have sex with men? God did not make them this way. This is all Western influence — and the gay people expect us to be open- minded?Mageswary Ramakrishnan, TIME Magazine, September 26, 2000
Malaysian Prime Minister warns the UK, "Any gay British minister taking their male partner to Malaysia would be thrown out of the country"
The veteran leader, whose former deputy Anwar Ibrahim was jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption, said it was unacceptable in his country for a minister to be homosexual even if it was accepted elsewhere.
. . .
Dr Mahathir told BBC Radio 4's Today programme other nations might have gay ministers because there was a difference in values.
"British people accept homosexual ministers but if they ever come here bringing their boyfriend along, we will throw them out."
. . .
Mr Tatchell said he was not aware of the ban on visiting politicians but was not surprised.
"In Malaysia, a consenting gay relationship is punishable by up to 20 years jail plus flogging and this is probably one of the harshest penalties for gay relations anywhere in the world."
Mr Tatchell, of gay rights direct action group OutRage!, said the issue had to be seen as just one fragment of human rights abuses in Malaysia.
. . .
BBC News, November 1, 2001
Speaking to a crowd of more than 300,000, Malaysian Prime Minister attacks gays and Western “homo” media in national TV speech and warns “if there are any homosexuals in Malaysia they had better mend their ways”
Speaking to a crowd of more than 300,000 following a massive parade in the capital, and broadcast live throughout the country, Mahathir said Malaysia’s achievements proved its policies worked. He then claimed that foreign powers were trying dominate weak countries and warned that Western influences threatened Malaysia’s traditional values.
“Western films idolize sex, violence, murders and wars,” said Mahathir, a critic of U.S.-led globalization. “Now they permit homosexual practices and accept religious leaders with openly gay lifestyles.”
“They are very angry—especially their reporters, many of whom are homos—when we take legal action against these practices,” Mahathir said.
Same-sex acts in Malaysia are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a flogging.
Mahathir warned that “if there are any homosexuals in Malaysia they had better mend their ways,” or face the maximum prison terms.365Gay.com, September 3, 2003
Sentenced to nine years in jail over a false charge of engaging in sodomy, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia is acquitted and finally released after serving six years of his sentence
Anwar who has been in jail for nearly 6 years was set to walk free today.
The Federal Court had ruled that the High Court which convicted Anwar, misdirected itself.
The head judge of a 3-judge bench said that Anwar should have been acquitted and therefore allowed the sentence and conviction to be set aside.
Former opposition politician Chandra Muzafa says the ruling asserts the Malaysian legal process.
“I’m happy that the highest court in the land has overturned the decisions made by the lower courts. It’s a victory of justice. My own reading of Anwar’s release is this – that the major institutions of governance in the country are slowly beginning to operate the way they should”
So what led to the court to approve the appeal?
Former Malaysian Member of Parliament, Mr James Wong says that the Federal Court found the evidence for the charges inconsistent.
“Of course this is a court decision based on legal reasoning. One of the witnesses, the key witnesses, changed his testimony. Material evidence followed by the dates of the alleged sodomy – they changed it 3 times. Because of that inconsistency, the benefit of the doubt was given to Anwar”Radio Singapore International, September 2, 2004
Commenting on a report yesterday on the British navy recruiting gays, Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said the country’s laws were clearly against unnatural sexual acts.
“We do not condone such unnatural sex acts,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying at a function in Kuala Lumpur.
Britain’s Royal Navy was reported to have signed an agreement with lobby group Stonewall to promote homosexual rights.
Britain lifted its ban on homosexuals serving in the military in 2000 following a European court ruling that the exclusion was unlawful.
“The RMN will never accept homosexuals as we have to protect the image of the navy,” the RMN chief said.Today, February 25, 2005
Gay people should not govern mostly Muslim Malaysia, former prime minister says in a court filing. "Malaysia is officially an Islamic country"
Mahathir fired his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998, alleging he was involved in corruption and had engaged in sodomy, an illegal act in Malaysia, after Anwar publicly denounced Mahathir's economic policies during the Asian financial crisis. Anwar was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of corruption and sodomy that year. A successful appeal in Malaysia's top court against the sodomy conviction set him free in 2004.
According to the statement, Mahathir said he knew his former deputy was gay because Anwar's speechwriter, Munawar Ahmad Anees, admitted in court that he had engaged in sodomy with Anwar. Munawar served six months in prison for the crime.Advocate, January 9, 2007
Islamist opposition party demands authorities to cancel a planned Adam Lambert concert which they say is promoting "gay culture" in the mainly Muslim country
The Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) has also threatened to call "as many of its members and supporters" to proselytize to concert-goers if the performance by the former "American Idol" runner-up goes ahead on Thursday, a party official said.
"Adam Lambert's shows... are outrageous, with lewd dancing and a gay performance that includes kissing male dancers, this is not good for people in our country," said PAS Youth leader Nasrudin Hasan. Homosexual sex is a criminal offence in Malaysia.
PAS is Malaysia's second-largest political party with close to a million membersRazak Ahmad, Reuters, October 11, 2010
More than 30 men caught partially or totally naked in a police raid on illegal 'gay' spas. Two detained
More than 30 men, aged between 20 and 50, were caught partially or totally naked in a raid on the illegal spas last Friday.
The raid was conducted by officers of the Foreign Student and Workforce Division (FSWD) of the Chief Minister's Department, Immigration Department, Melaka Tengah district police headquarters, state Islamic Department (Jaim) and Malacca Historical City Council.
. . .
"We conducted surveillance on both centres for about a week. "During the raid at 9pm, we found most of the men in both spas clad in towels. Some of them were also found naked in one of the spas' open shower area," he said, after the operation at Jalan Kilang, Melaka Tengah here.
. . .
New Straits Times, November 7, 2010
Gay man receives death threats after revealing his sexuality in an online video. He is now afraid to go out alone, and avoids spending time in public places
The video is part of a gay rights project that encourages gay Malaysians to be confident in coming out. While a group of gay activists have posted up similar videos, it is thought Ismail’s clip has garnered more attention as he is the only Malay Muslim featured.
Harussani Zakaria, an Islamic cleric, has said that Ismail should not have posted the revealing clip as it: “derided his own dignity and Islam in general”.
Ismail has admitted that he is now afraid to go out alone, and avoids spending time in public places saying, “I don’t know what to expect next.” He told The Associated Press, “My intention was not to insult Islam. I just wanted to represent gay Malays in this project. I hope these videos will help to create a more open society.”
The series of videos have been compared to the “It Gets Better Project” which started in the US two months ago following a number of young gay suicides.
Last weekend Malaysia’s minister for Islamic affairs, Jamil Baharom, said he feared gay activists tried to encourage homosexuality and stated that the YouTube post “would hurt Islam’s image”.Joe Brothwell, PinkPaper, December 21, 2010
"No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby." Lady GaGa's "offensive" lyrics in 'Born This Way' censored by Malaysia
Parts of the song have been dubbed over with an indecipherable noise for its radio edit in the predominantly Muslim country after they were deemed "offensive" when viewed against Malaysians' religious beliefs.
One of the lyrics which has been omitted is: "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby."
A spokesperson for Amp Radio told The AP: "The particular lyrics in 'Born This Way' may be considered as offensive when viewed against Malaysia's social and religious observances.
"The issue of being gay, lesbian or [bisexual] is still considered as a 'taboo' by general Malaysians."Robert Copsey, Digital Spy,March 17, 2011
Malaysia sends 66 'effeminate' teen boys to anti-gay counseling to help prevent them from potentially becoming gay or transvestites
The education director of a northeastern state in this Muslim-majority country says the measure is meant to help prevent the teens from potentially becoming gay or transvestites.
Gay rights advocates criticized the effort Tuesday and called it a sign of homophobia.
Education official Razali Daud says the boys reported Monday for what is officially being called a "self-development course" after their schoolteachers identified them as students who displayed effeminate mannerisms.Associated Press, April 19, 2011
Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) officers round up several transvestites, a hetrosexual couple, and foreigners, in a sting to curb "vice, immoral and criminal" activities
Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) officers decided to haul the couple in after the woman was found half naked hiding under a bed of a lodging house in town.
During the operation, two Muslim couples were caught for close proximity. Several transvestites were also rounded up and five other foreigners who did not possess identification documents were apprehended.
The detainees aged between 17 and in their 30 were roped from entertainment premises, lodging houses and low budget hotels.
Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) operation chief Azinun Sanarul said the operation from 10pm to 2am was carried out jointly with the police to curb vice, immoral and criminal activities.
During the operation, an entertainment spot was ordered closed for violating the licence and several equipment were confiscated.
“We want people, including businessmen, to realize that all regulations must be observed. If they refuse, they face legal action,” he said.Alen Kee, BorneoPost Online, April 28, 2011
Court rejects transsexual’s name change. Estimated 50,000 transsexuals in Malaysia, but few dare to come forward. Many face daily discrimination and harassment, forcing them to earn their living as sex workers
A high court in conservative eastern Terengganu state ruled that a person’s sex was determined at birth so Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz could not change the name on her identity card, her lawyer said.
“I fear for her… the difficulties she is going to face daily,” lawyer Horley Isaacs told AFP. “What is this person going to do now? Can she go to a man’s toilet?”
Isaacs said Ashraf Hafiz, a 25-year-old former pharmaceutical assistant, was born with an abnormally small penis and underwent a full sex-change operation in neighboring Thailand in 2008.
Isaacs said Ashraf Hafiz’s family supported her application to change her name on her identity card to Aleeshya Farhana, but the National Registration Department had rejected it.
“According to her mother, right from when she was a child her characteristics were feminine. She was all prim and proper,” he said.
Isaacs said in recent years only two other transsexuals have filed court petitions to be allowed name changes. One of the applicants, in 2005, was successful.
Angela M. Kuga Thas, who works with transgendered people, said activists estimate there are some 50,000 transsexuals in Malaysia, but few dare to come forward.
Transsexuals and other transgendered people face daily discrimination and harassment in Malaysia, and many of them are forced to earn their living as sex workers because they cannot get any other job.
Islamic laws, which apply to the Muslims who make up 60 percent of Malaysia’s population, make it an offense for men to pose as women in public, with punishment stretching to several years in jail in some states.
Kuga Thas said discrimination had become worse as the country’s leaders emphasized the importance of Islam and Islamic officials enforced laws more zealously.
“With the rising consciousness of a more Islamic way of being in Malaysia, this has created a lot of complexities, and it has encouraged a lot of stigma and discrimination against people who don’t share the same belief system,” she said.Agence France-Presse, July 18, 2011
Gay Christian pastor to defy government with wedding banquet. Government leaders and state-linked media criticize him, and Islamic Affairs Minister says authorities concerned that he is advocating "extremism"
The Rev. Ouyang Wen Feng told The Associated Press that he hopes more Malaysians will "speak up for gay people."
Several government leaders and state-linked media in Muslim-majority Malaysia have criticized Ouyang in recent days.
Islamic Affairs Minister Jamil Khir Baharom said authorities were concerned that Ouyang was advocating "extremism."
Ouyang said in an email to the AP on Tuesday that he plans to "have a wedding banquet in Kuala Lumpur next year."
He moved to the United States in 1998 to study theology. He was ordained a minister four years ago.Associated Press, August 16, 2011
Islamic party protests Elton John's show, saying the singer's homosexuality would corrupt young Muslims. "What he is doing is hedonism. Hedonism is not good in Islam" (and again in 2012)
Shahril Azman Abdul Halim Al-Hafiz, an official with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), said the concert by singer Elton John at the Genting Highlands resort on Nov. 22 would corrupt young Muslims because of John's homosexuality.
"It's not good. In Islam homosexuality is forbidden," he told AFP. "What he is doing is hedonism. Hedonism is not good in Islam."
The British singer is openly gay, marrying his partner in 2005 after same-sex unions were legalised in Britain.
Shahril is the chairman of the PAS youth wing of eastern Pahang state. The casino resort lies on the border of the state, about an hour's drive from the capital Kuala Lumpur.
An official from concert promoter Tune Live declined to comment.Ahram Online, October 25, 2011
John, who is widely popular in Malaysia, is scheduled to perform on Thursday at a resort outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.
But the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) is lashing out and saying it is “immoral” for the country to host an openly gay performer in the country.
“This concert must be cancelled. Artists who are involved in gay and lesbian activities must not be allowed to perform in Malaysia as they will promote the wrong values,” Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, chief of the youth wing, was quoted as saying by local media.Alisha Hassan, Bikya Masr, November 27, 2012
Police order gay rights activists to cancel gay festival aimed at fighting discrimination, after criticism by the deputy prime minister and plans by several Muslim groups to protest the event
The "Sexual Independence" festival has been held under low-key circumstances in Kuala Lumpur since 2008, but growing awareness about the event has lead to criticism by politicians and religious leaders.
This year's five-day festival — starting Nov. 9 at a private arts center and themed "Queer Without Fear" — featured planned musical performances of "queer anthems sung by fierce local singers and drag divas who know what it means to love out loud and proud," organizers said.
But after criticism by the deputy prime minister and plans by several Muslim nongovernment groups to protest, police ordered the event to be canceled.
Authorities will "prevent any function relating to the program," deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement run by national Bernama news agency and confirmed by police representatives.
Many organizations "feared the program could create disharmony, enmity and disturb public order," Khalid said.
Earlier Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had described the event as "inappropriate" and a "waste of time," according to Bernama.
Gay rights activists did not immediately respond. Earlier, they had said the festival was meant to counter widespread homophobia in this socially conservative Asian nation, where a young gay man received death threats last year after posting a YouTube clip defending his sexuality.
"Asking us to keep quiet is asking us to take your abuse with a smile ... it's time to put a stop to all the hate and misunderstanding and abuse," festival spokesman Pang Khee Teik said in an online statement posted Thursday before the event was banned.
This year's program also included plans for talks on sexuality issues, a poster exhibition and a makeup workshop by a drag queen. One session is titled "Defense Against The Dark Arts: Homophobia 101."
Media censorship rules forbid movies and song lyrics that promote acceptance of gays, while a decades-old law makes sodomy punishable by 20 years in prison, though it is seldom and selectively enforced.
The festival's sponsors and supporters included the Malaysian chapter of Amnesty International, the country's main grouping of lawyers and other human rights organizations.Sean Yoong, Associated Press, November 3, 2011
Court rejects a petition by gay rights activists and upholds police ban on its arts and music festival
High Court Judge Rohana Yusuf said the police were entitled to order the ban on the festival called Seksualiti Merdeka, meaning sexuality independence, which was to have been held in November.
The police banned the festival on safety grounds after Muslim groups threatened to disrupt the event which aimed to promote dialogue about gay issues.
The organizers challenged the ban in the court in January.
Pang Kee Teik, one of the organizers of the event, lamented the decision of the court.
“When the police’s arbitrary powers cannot be reviewed in court, we are allowing the police to get away with abuse of power,” he said in a statement.John Grafilo, Bikya Masr, March 1, 2012
“There has been a rising wave of threats made against the LGBT community...," LGBT activists cite security concerns for not holding demonstration on the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO)
“It is a sad time for the LGBT community in Malaysia, but we hope to hold other events in the future to promote tolerance and understanding,” one organizer told Bikyamasr.com on Sunday.
The international rally against homophobia and transphobia is an international event and will be held across the world on Thursday May 17, with events already scheduled in the Philippines, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Morocco, China and for the first time in Burma, as well as other countries.
But the organizers of Seksualiti Merdeka, the sexual minorities festival that was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2008, 2009 and 2010, but was banned by police last year, have decided that in the current political climate in Malaysia it would be unwise to hold an LGBT rally.
“Seksualiti Merdeka has decided not to organize an IDAHO event in Malaysia at the moment because of security concerns,’ Jerome Kugan, one of the organizers of the festival, told Gay Star News.
Kugan said that since the banning of Seksualiti Merdeka last November “there has been a rising wave of threats made against the LGBT community by the government and certain religious organizations, including an anti-LGBT rally held at a local university recently.”
Although Kugan said the situation for LGBT people in Malaysia shouldn’t be exaggerated and the country is “still largely peaceful and tolerant of LGBTs” following allegations of police brutality at a recent pro-democracy and anti-corruption rally, Bersih 3.0, they have have decided to support IDAHO online only.
Seksualiti Merdeka organisers are attending Cambodia ASEAN Pride Week next week, joining forces with LGBT rights groups in the other South East Asian nations.Alisha Hassan, Bikya Masr, May 14, 2012
Effective immediately, Malaysia bans gay or effeminate male characters from appearing on television, radio or in movies, in order to "curb the influence of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community"
. . .
The ban became effective immediately with state-owned TV and radio stations, he said. No specifics about which shows will be affected were revealed, but the ban will likely be expanded to cover privately-owned stations as well as satellite TV providers.
“If it means canceling some of the shows, so be it,” he said. The decision was to curb the “influence” of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community, he added.
As for foreign productions, he said the Censorship Board will remove indivudual episodes from current TV shows and bar movies with gay characters from being screened locally.
“Effective immediately, radio and TV stations are asked to stop screening shows which feature gay, effeminate men as well as characters that go against the norm of a religious society because this encourages and promotes LGBT now,” said the directive.
That could mean any television show that has an inkling of “gayness” would be removed from Malaysian television, which has sparked controversy on censorship in the country and the future of the LGBT community.Alisha Hassan, Bikya Masr, May 14, 2012
"They accuse me (a lesbian) of trying to convert other girls", Government announces it is monitoring organizations "trying to influence teens towards free sex and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual activities"
“It’s daily, people will ask me what it is like to be a lesbian in Malaysia and I tell them,” she began, sitting in her recently pressed business attire ready for work. “But then they accuse me of trying to convert other girls, just so I can sleep with them. It is ridiculous,” she told Bikyamasr.com.
But the Malaysian government agrees with the naysayers and for the 27-year-old manager at a local advertising company, it is making life difficult.
“It is hard to be open when all eyes are on us all the time,” she added.
Making matters harder for the LGBT community and the likes of Suzie is The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), which has announced it is monitoring organisations that are trying to influence teenagers towards free sex and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual (LGBT) activities.
It said that it would ensure that “appropriate actions can be taken” against the community.
“It’s a bunch of hate and lies. We are regular Malaysians and it is time for people to understand this. We aren’t out to sleep with your girlfriends, or your daughters. Come on, this is crazy,” added Suzie.
JAKIM director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha, disagreed, saying the organisations were using social media including blogs to “influence teenagers to support the LGBT movement in the country.
“Based on our initial investigation, there are blogs that are trying to influence youngsters to get involved in LGBT activities. About 3,000 fans are surfing such blogs,” he told reporters at the “Ramah Mesra” program with the Orang Asli community in Sungai Rual, and was launched by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He added that JAKIM would be collaborating with other relevant authorities including the police, State Islamic Religious Departments and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the matter.
Othman also advised teenagers to stay away from LGBT activities and urged parents to monitor their children’s movements to ensure that they would not be trapped in the negative culture.Alisha Hassan, Bikya Masr, May 16, 2012
"This group is already being persecuted and intimidated. And now they are trying to expose people and continue to attack them", Government endorses parenting guide that describes symptoms of homosexuality
Sin Chew Daily today reported that the Education Ministry had endorsed the guide as helpful to parents and teachers.
It was launched during a seminar in Penang yesterday. The event, billed as “Parenting in addressing the issue of LGBTs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders)”, was officiated by Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi. The guide listed four symptoms each for gays and lesbians:
For gays:
- Muscular body and a fondness for showing off the body by wearing clothing, such as by wearing V-necks and sleeveless tops
- A preference for tight and bright coloured clothes
- An inclination to be attracted to men
- A tendency to carry big handbags, similar to the kinds used by women
For lesbians:
- Showing attraction to women
- Distancing themselves from women other than their girlfriends
- A preference for hanging out, sleeping and dining with women
- Absence of feelings for men
Teaching hate
When asked to comment, activist and Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder Pang Khee Teik initially said: “I don’t even know how to respond.”
However, he proceeded to flay the Education Ministry for being “only interested in teaching hate, promoting inequality and playing politics”.
“The Ministry of Education is now officially a bully,” he said. “I never presumed to be in the position to teach the meaning of education to the people running the Ministry of Education. But it has come to that.”
He said education should be used to provide equal opportunity and the realisation of the human potential to collaborate with one another in building a better world.
Pang, who is openly gay, said that studies around the world had proven that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity would harm individuals as well as society.
“Many of these studies originate in countries which have made such mistakes in their past and who are desperately now trying to undo the wounds that discriminatory policies had left on the psyche of their people,” he said.
He said the ministry should instead pay heed to such LGBT issues as suicide, forced marriages, depression and bullying. “It must stop this inhuman campaign against vulnerable children,” he said. “It should teach all children to be confident and to respect each other no matter who they are.”
Pang offered to provide guidance to “poorly educated” education officials through his organisation.
“It’s not too late. There are a few good books and studies out there they could read instead of relying on pseudo-experts and quacks.”
Absurd campaign
Fadiah Nadwa Fikri of Lawyers for Liberty said the Education Ministry’s campaign was absurd.
“I don’t see why they are doing this,” she said. “This group is already being persecuted and intimidated. And now they are trying to expose people and continue to attack them instead of trying to understand the whole problem. They are forgetting human rights...Free Malaysia Today, September 13, 2012
Four transsexuals who were all previously arrested for cross-dressing under Islamic law, lose a landmark case challenging Islamic law that bars them from dressing as women
The case was the first attempt to overturn the prohibition on cross-dressing in the conservative, Muslim-majority nation where homosexuality and transsexual lifestyles remain taboo.
The High Court in Seremban, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur, dismissed the challenge mounted by the four that Sharia, or religious law, in the state infringed on their constitutional right of non-discrimination.
Thilaga Sulathireh, an activist who helped them bring the case to court, said the judge refused to overrule the ban. Malaysia has a dual-track legal system with Sharia courts administering certain matters for Muslims.
“The (judge) said they are born male, they are still male and so the law applies to them... She said cross dressing is condemned in Islam,” she told AFP.
“It shows if you are Muslim, it's difficult to challenge anything in this country,” she said, adding that the four were considering whether to appeal.
“They are disappointed. We are all quite shocked by the ruling.” The case was lodged by Juzaili Khamis, 24, Shukor Jani, 25, Wan Fairol Wan Ismail, 27, and Adam Shazrul Yusoff, 25, who work as bridal make-up artists and typically dress as women.
All have previously been arrested for cross-dressing under Islamic law -- administered by state authorities -- which bars Muslim men from dressing or posing as women.
Juzaili and Shukor currently face charges in court and if convicted, they face up to six months in jail.
Last year, another High Court rejected a bid by a transsexual to change the name registered on her identity card after undergoing a sex-change operation to become a woman.
The 25-year-old former pharmaceutical assistant died weeks later, reportedly of heart problems.
Sodomy is punishable by 20 years in prison in Malaysia. Transsexuals are a marginalised community and many become sex workers after being shut out of other employment opportunities.AFP, October 11, 2012
Government runs parenting workshops on curbing LGBT behavior described as "a social illness" and backs anti-LGBT, pro-Islam musical that aims to educate youngsters and parents on "the bad things about LGBT"
Asmara Songsang (Abnormal Desire) follows the lives of three LGBT friends who throw loud parties, take drugs and have casual sex, thereby incurring the wrath of their religious neighbours, who attempt to reintroduce them to the teachings of Islam. Those who repent are spared, while those who don't are killed in a lightning storm.
Rahman Adam, 73, who wrote and directed the musical, said his aim was "to educate the youngsters and their parents [on] the bad things about LGBT".
"Nowadays in Malaysia you read so many things in newspaper articles or write-ups about LGBT … because [LGBT] are going into schools and influencing the children," he said. "Children need to recognise that men are for women, and women are for men. They [LGBT] are all out to have homosexual and lesbian sex, and although right now it is not so serious [in Malaysia], we need to act, to do something, to say something, to say that this is bad and not to follow it."
The musical features some of Malaysia's most famous TV actors and opened this month at the national theatre in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. It has since toured schools, universities and teacher-training colleges – with free tickets provided.
Malaysia is no stranger to anti-LGBT sentiment. In 2011, the government set up a camp to "correct the effeminate behaviour" of schoolboys and last year endorsed a how-to guide for recognising gay and lesbian "symptoms" in youth.
This year, it is running parenting workshops on curbing LGBT behaviour, presided over by the deputy education minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who has called LGBT "a social illness" and warned: "Just like drugs, a lack of awareness will cause LGBT to spread." Adam's musical – which ends with the cast singing the incumbent government's anthem for national unity – has hit the stage at an interesting time in Malaysia. General elections must be held by June, and the ruling Barisan Nasional, which has presided over the country for nearly 60 years, stands to lose its hold on power. The opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has faced sodomy charges twice in the past 15 years, allegations he says were politically motivated. While Adam insists most of the press his musical has received has been positive, its anti-LGBT message has incurred the wrath of some audience members and human-rights groups, who say it only serves to incite hatred in a nation where LGBT rights still go largely unrecognised...The Guardian, March 28, 2013
