Fridae

At least 13 transgender women have been assaulted in Kuantan, the state capital of Pahang, in the last six months – stirring fears that the same gang is responsible for the attacks, The Star newspaper reported on Thursday quoting a friend of several of the victims.

One of the victims, identified in the press as Mona, received 18 stitches after being assaulted and slashed in the neck at Jalan Haji Abdul Aziz on Sep 1 last year.Photo: The Star 

The attacks occurred in Jalan Bukit Ubi, Jalan Pasar and Jalan Dato Wong Ah Jang, besides Jalan Haji Abdul Aziz. One of the victims, identified in the press as Mona, received 18 stitches after being assaulted and slashed in the neck at Jalan Haji Abdul Aziz on Sep 1 last year.

The two victims of the latest attack, which occurred on Wednesday, are a make-up artist and her friend who were set upon by six men on motorcycles and beaten with chains, steel bars and crash helmets. They both suffered cuts and bruises.

“They hit me non-stop till I fell, and then hit me some more. They sounded very angry,” one of the victims was quoted as saying in the paper. She received five stitches to close a deep gash on the back of her head.

She said her friend who tried to intervene was beaten up and added that they were not robbed.

The report quoted another friend of the victims as saying transsexuals believe the assaults were carried out by the same group of assailants, noting that given the targets have not been robbed, the motive for the attacks is unclear.

Six police reports have been made. It is not known if the police has made a statement about the attacks.