Outcry as Malaysian minister calls to arrest and ‘educate’ transgender people
- Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad says he has given ‘full license’ to Islamic authorities to bring transgender people ‘back to the right path’
- Activists criticise his words as ‘irresponsible’, saying they cast a further shadow on the new government’s human rights record
Zulkifli Mohamad of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition – which came to power in March following a political coup – recently announced he had given “full license” to Islamic authorities to ensure transgender people came “back to the right path”.
The announcement prompted an outcry from activists, who pointed out that in just four months since coming to power the coalition had already clamped down on union members and journalists and banned a book on the 2018 general election in which the previous administration, the Pakatan Harapan, toppled the Barisan Nasional after 61 years.
“This will encourage vigilante violence. We saw this happen during the Barisan Nasional government and no action was taken then,” said Mitch Yusmar Yusof, executive director of the trans-led community organisation Seed Foundation.