The four were among the 16 Muslim men arrested by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department in a raid during a beauty pageant held at a resort in the northern state of Kelantan in Malaysia, according to media reports.
Some of the contestants who were arrested. Photo was published by the the New Straits Times newspaper.
The official revealed that one transvestite was released because "he wore a Malay traditional outfit" while the other 11 who were wearing evening gowns will be charged on Aug 24. The 11 are currently on bail.
The New Straits Times newspaper reported that most of contestants were teachers and bank employees.
It was reported that another group of 50 transvestites who were preparing to join the "Miss Universe Asia 2008" contest managed to escape arrest - several of whom dived into a nearby river. About 300 people were at the hotel to watch the event.
Abdul Aziz said it was the first time that authorities had made such a mass arrest in the state.
He said the "immoral" activities of the transsexuals, including dressing up and acting like women, were contradictory to Islamic practices.
Kelantan has been ruled by the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) since 1990 and is considered the most conservative state in Malaysia. Town council officials recently attracted criticism after banning women from wearing bright lipstick and high-heeled shoes so as to prevent immoral activities or rape. It also called for stricter enforcement of laws on separate male and female queues in shops.
While Malaysia has both Islamic and secular courts, the Syariah Courts have jurisdiction only over Muslims, who make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 27.5 million people.
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I thought it was ridiculous.
Kelantan is a nice and friendly state.
It's hard to imagine how they can ban all sorts of stuff in Kelantan first cock fights... then muay thai... now Drag queens?!
This includes men dressing up as women. It is not something new as it is practised in all countries where shariah law is the prime laws of the state. Thirdly, the police did not do the arrest. The State Religious Affairs department did the arrest under Islamic Law which is practised in the state of Kelantan.
The arrest only applies to Muslims because it contravenes Islamic laws but does not affect non-Muslims as I dun think there is a civil law banning men from dressing as women.
Well, probably wasn't the most brilliant idea to have it in Kelantan. KL, yes, Kelantan, hell no! Doesn't mean I don't condone the authorities for their ongoing 'moral policing' but it's a known fact Kelantan is as religious a state as an Arabic country
Hope they'll bail out soon!
kindly thai's in KUL..
My name is Antonio Piedrahita,I'm from Pereira,Colombia and had the chance to visit Malaysia for 6 weeks on May,2004
Malaysia and Malaysians as wonderfull,and the greatest of all it is their multicultural,multiethnic,and multireligius envirmoent.I was ameze to see how a muslim mosque and a hindu shrine where face to face,and at on the cornes and budist temple.
This to all of you Malaysians; MALAYSIA IS THE TRUE ASIA!!!!! not another muslim domain.
Stupid is what I say.
I'm just glad I don't live there.
Just let the people who is happy with PAS live there in their religious fanaticsm while everybody moves out. Let their overzealousness crash on them.
They ought to change their religion... but ok, in Msia you probably don't have that freedom either...
Your intuition is right, terrificturk. As I understand it, all ethnic Malaysians are deemed to be Muslim by birth, and renouncing the faith is illegal. Only the non-Malaysians (mostly ethnic Chinese) have religious freedom.
Things may be slowly changing, though, as this article discusses:
http://richarddawkins.net/article,2586,Malaysia-woman-scores-rare-legal-win-to-quit-Islam,Reuters
hola amigo!
thanks for your kind compliment on our heritage and culture....however what you see if just the surface of disguise....
yes, some places you do see different religious workship places built together in one area, and this is often being bragged about.
now, these days, to build a worship place, is very tough, then this restriction is not limited to mosque but temples and churches. this is discrimination and this is an issue here is malaysia!
malaysia truly asia,!? as rosy as it sounds, the nation itself is rotting.
so much stuff is going on right now, and nothing is good, really.
such a beautiful country, but with so many idiots managing it, sad!
I feel pity for the girls and those who are lucky for wearing the man's outfit... better play it safe right?? hahah :D. Sorry that I laugh... this is just so silly! :P
Surely you mean Malays (ethinicity) and not Malaysians (nationality).
I hope that in future, the event could be held at a place or country where it is more acceptable. A place where those 'gurls' could let their hair down without worrying of raids or sorts..
Better luck next time, gurls! I pity you all darlinkzz!!
Nevertheless, this will not stop our darling divas from donning on another dress anytime soon... you'll see.
Also, chubsterboy... the Malaysian Constitution denotes that all "MALAYS" are deemed as Muslims automatically. This does not apply to other races like Indians or Chinese. However, if a Chinese converts to Islam, he cannot convert out to another religion. That's apostasy.I just need to clarify the difference between race, religion and nationality because I think you confused the terms in your statement. I hope you dun take offence.
May god bless them when they are in the jail. Fight comes with pain.
it really rubbish and it dosen respak people at all..
http://queensspeech.com/conversations/queeristan/update_whispers_from_the_delhi_high_court
at the following page:
conversations/queeristan/update_whispers_from_the_delhi_high_court
Don't some Malay tribal men wear "skirts"? David Beckham sometimes wears a "skirt". Are women allowed to wear trouser suits, or is this considered "male" clothing ?
As for Malaysia, it's quite a can-do sort of place where people are prepared to stand up for themselves, and believe that things can change.
Malaysia should finally get its act together and get rid of the two legal systems. If Malaysia wants to become a modern country (and that is what the Malaysian government always tells to everybody), they should finally finish their legal reforms (and they are busy with it, I know that).
But everyone would like to see the results soon!
i sit down n shake my head for u.
It is not possible to modernise and live in the dark ages of religion, it's ridiculous.
Many of my Chinese Malaysian friends have fled the country to find human equality elsewhere. Sad isn't it...
... though, some of you here might feel right at home in malaysia ...
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