“Even if you cry, nothing will change.”

Cross-posted from The Mustard Seed.

“Any male who wears as woman’s attire in public for immoral purposes shall be guilty of an offense and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.”
-Section 28, Syariah Criminal Offenses (Federal Territories)

Unlike other majority Islamic countries that have law based on Syariah or have secular laws influenced by Syariah, Malaysia doesn’t allow for sex change operations. Countries such as Egypt, under the dictatorial secular ND party allow for sex changes for those whom are considered to benefit from such operations; the same with the Islamic Republic of Iran under mullahs of the Guardian Council.

However, in Malaysia this is not the case (even though it used to be until the early 1980s) which has caused much despair and trauma for the Mak Nyah (transsexual) population in Malaysia estimated to be numbered at around 25 to 30 thousand.

Journalist and videographer Poh Si Teng, whom I have the pleasure of calling my friend and have been able to work with, decided to spend some time with Mak Nyahs in Kuala Lumpur to chronicle their hardships, feelings, and thoughts about being Mak Nyah in a society that rejects them with its laws and its homespun take on Sunni Islam.

Her documentary (click here to buy), titled Pecah Lobang (“Busted”), chronicles the lives of Mak Nyah prostitutes in Kuala Lumpur who have taken to prostitution in order to support their families (as they can’t normally find jobs within mainstream society). Along with putting their lives within the lens of a video camera she also gets them to open up and talk about police brutality, relationships with their families, and their relationship with God.

Read more »

This entry posted in Gender and the Body, International issues, Sex work, porn, etc, Transsexual and Transgender related issues. Bookmark the permalink. 

One Response to “Even if you cry, nothing will change.”

  1. 1
    libhomo says:

    Transphobic prejudice really is a global problem. I wish our Congress would set a better example by including gender identity in ENDA.