Human Rights Watch (HRW) has revealed in its World Report 2016 that the Malaysian government increased its campaign of harassment and repression against activists, political opposition figures, and the media last year.
The report highlights that the rights of LGBT people remain under threat in the country.
The report notes that in October a decision by the Federal Court to uphold an anti-transgender state law that prohibits "a male person posing as a woman" was a major dent on human rights.
The report also flags an attack by two men on LGBT rights defender Nisha Ayub outside her apartment in September. The police have failed to bring the culprits to justice.
Phil Roberts, deputy Asia director, summed up the situation in Malaysia by saying: “Prime Minister Najib Razak is trampling on fundamental rights to hush up corruption allegations and maintain his grip on power.”
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Hum
Let's recall that the corruption allegations are spreading like wildfire with Switzerland being the latest country to state "billions of dollars" have been stolen from Malaysian state-owned enterprises, according to today's issue of The Guardian newspaper.
LGBT tourists are NOT welcomed in Malaysia. The effect of anti-LGBT legislation even extends of movies. Here is what the Huffington Post wrote three months ago -
"Walk into any theater in Malaysia screening a movie with a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender character, and you can expect to watch a similar plot unfold: All LGBT characters will "die or repent” by the end of the film.
In a move that was considered to be an improvement, the Malaysian government’s Film Censorship Board issued a controversial guideline change in 2010.
I leave the last word to the country's embattled Prime Minister -
"Earlier this year, Razak compared the LGBT community to the Islamic State terror group. Both, he said, are enemies of Islam."
So, every member of this site is part of a terror group! Kill that advertisement, fridae. It is a disgrace to our community!! If not, please explain to members how it falls under your stated mission, ""Empower Gay Asia!"
Maybe fridae should clarify the position
- First of all "Out in Malaysia" is a NON-SPONSORED special feature that we decided to run as a way to support the local Malaysian LGBT Community.
- This campaign is intended to shed a positive light on the LGBT Community and its power, in order to increase pressure on local and national governments and help them see the potential benefits of welcoming the community, tourists and locals alike. It presents an opportunity for local businesses to show their support to the LGBT community in the face of intolerance.
- Fridae.asia has purposefully published the above article at the beginning of this campaign as our aim is to help highlight the issues facing LGBTs in Malaysia.
We will be running special features in various other countries across Asia including in others, like Malaysia, where homosexuality is neither legal, nor accepted.
Thank you all again and fridae.asia´s philosophy is that change can be brought about in a positive and constructive way.
In any case, the message is targeted specifically at tourists. There is nothing in it referring to the local LGBT community. It merely gives a very false impression that Malaysia is a gay destination. It is NOT! And I fear that some readers may consider that it is as easy to be gay there as it is in some other parts of Asia - and then get into a lot of personal trouble during their vacations, trouble for themselves and perhaps a Malay with whom they have sexual relations. With sharia law in force in some Malay states, that could have horrendous consequences! What sort of help is that to the local LGBT community?
If you wish to help that community, place your article in banner headlines for all to see and reduce the "vibrant" misleading message in the News section!
More thinking before acting please.
You state the above article balances the present headline. That is just nonsense! Within a few days this article will disappear into those in the other 384 pages of news items and no-one will see it. Will you then take down the Malaysian ad at the top?
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